Comments on: Alaskan Governor Describes Mastodon Herds

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:22:01 +0000

I think the idea that mastodons still survive is feasible considering the size of Alaska and amount of remote areas. It also has to be kept in mind that not only have species been rediscovered after being supposedly extinct for far longer than the mastodon, but the discovery of new populations of large animals such as elephants and rhinos also add credence to the possibility. Take for instance the elephants that were discovered living on an island, a treeless one nonetheless, amidst swamps in south Sudan. This population managed to escape the ravages of over 20 years of war and rampant hunting. there is also the rhinos of Borneo which were only first photographed a couple of years ago. Now I know statistics aren’t the whole story, but let’s break it down.

We have a new elephant population discovered in Sudan.
Sudan has an area of 967,495 square miles. The population density is 36/ square mile. On top of that, a heavily over hunted and war torn country.

A newly documented rhino in Borneo.
Borneo has an area of 287,000 square miles with a population density of 57/ square mile.

Now look at the facts for Alaska. An area of 656,424 square miles with a population density of 1.2/ square mile.

So I find it hard to see how anyone could write off the possibility out of hand. It seems to me that the idea of a remaining population of large animals like mastodons lurking somewhere in the remote wilds of Alaska is not too far fetched.

By: springheeledjack

springheeledjack — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:52:56 +0000

The thing people forget all of the time is that even though people live in places like Alaska and what not, does not mean that every square mile (I was going to say “inch”, but mile is more appropriate) is not populated with people…far from it. People always ASSUME that we have covered all the territory, but the fact is there are plenty of places man has not ventured on this planet. There are backlands in Kentucky and Tennessee no human has ever stepped foot in…there are thousands of sqaure miles all over our country (and don’t even get me started on Canada) that no one walks on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

So I do not believe that it is impossible for large critters to be wandering around unseen. Larger creatures tend to cover more ground, have larger territories, thus making it harder to find because they do move around…as for tracks, well if there are mastodons, then they should leave some large tracks and other remnants, but again, how often do people get out to the depths of Alaska, Canada, etc. And planes flying over don’t give you much of an advantage at all–if you’ve ever been in a small plane, a lot of the details on the ground go away with height and speed…and especially if you’ve got tree cover going against you, so that is no boon either.

My point? Is it probable or 100% that mastodons are running in herds up in Alaska? I’d say it’s unlikely, but not impossible.

By: marcodufour

marcodufour — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:06:59 +0000

To ETxArtist there were in fact Musk ox in the wild in Alaska in September 2000 as i and my companions saw them there just inland from Nome.

By: Dj Plasmic Nebula

Dj Plasmic Nebula — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:43:00 +0000

I believe it. But what bothers me is that how do they know it’s a mastodon???? it could be a Unknown to science species what you may call New Species.

Other than that… it could be a new breed somehow or a prehistoric breed.

Either way it’s beautiful to hear this kind of sightings.. I love all animals.. and Elephants too, but they may not be my favorite, the mastodon stories and mammoths seem to be my favorite kind of the elephant kinds.

makes me wonder.. if they were alive today.. i wonder how would the babies look if they all cross breed.

Mastodon + Mammoth

Mastodon + African Elephant

Mastodon + Asian Elephant

Mammoth + African Elephant

Mammoth + Asian Elephant

By: Lightning Orb

Lightning Orb — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:21:17 +0000

Intrieguing article. It would certainly be cool if there were mastodons still living that recently (cooler still if they lived even now). But I have to agree with the notion the tusk was probably taken from a cadaver. Though one could even make a case for it having come from one of those hulking demon-walrus critters…

By: Aztec Raptor

Aztec Raptor — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 01:55:12 +0000

It is possible that the Mastodon may have survived. If the Musk ox, the Pornghorn, and Bison survived there is luck that the mastodon may survive in Alaska. it is mostly unpopulated and some unexplored. and about “elephants” on Mayan stone tablets, there may have lived some kind of elephant or Mammoth that lived in Mexico at the time of the Mayan civilization. my granfather had found a large elephant or Mammoth- like animal fossile in his backyard. the bad thing is the Mexican government took the fossile away from my granfathers home by two “scientists” that would tell him what it was in ten years. sadly, it has bin more then ten years and no info. it was some thing our family only knew about! I donot know how they found out!!

By: Artist

Artist — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:26:50 +0000

HA! Boy, that Headline -
“Alaskan Governor Describes Mastodon Herds”
- sure got MY attention!
I wonder why?

By: Deborah

Deborah — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:24:58 +0000

There are no Mastodons left in Alaska – Sarah Palin shot them all from a helicopter. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

By: sieni

sieni — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:12:04 +0000

I remember seeing pictures of “elephants” on Mayan stone tablets. Either they actually saw elephants on their expeditions, or they had something similar on their own continent.

By: Cryptoraptor

Cryptoraptor — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:39:31 +0000

Thanks, Loren. So as stated above, a small population of Woolly Mammoths survived on Russia’s Wrangel Island until as recently as 3700 years ago. That’s amazing.