EXTINCT woolly mammoths could be brought back to life in the next 10 years according to the head of a Russian territory which has approved a major planned cloning project.
“In my opinion, cloning a mammoth will happen in the next decade”
The government of Russia’s Siberian Yakutia territory has given a team of scientists the go-ahead to attempt mammoth cloning.
The multi-national team includes researchers from Russia, South Korea and Japan.
If successful, the mega mammals will be kept in a giant Jurassic Park-style reserve.
It would be the first time mammoths, which could reach 11 feet in height, have walked the Earth for 4,000 years.
Acting head of Yakutia territory Aisen Nikolaev claimed: “In my opinion, cloning a mammoth will happen in the next decade.
“Technology is developing at an explosive pace and what yesterday seemed to be scientific nonsense, today is an absolutely clear prospect for scientists.”
Mr Nikolaev was speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok.
He first attracted attention when he proposed putting cloned mammoths in a Siberian ice age park in 2014.
Replica mammoth in a German museum (Image: GETTY )
He told the forum: “Back in 2014 I proposed a project to create an Ice Age Park with mammoths – everybody laughed then.
“But they’re not laughing now.
“Today technology is developing at an explosive pace, and what yesterday seemed to e scientific nonsense today is an absolutely clear prospect for scientists.
The carcass of a baby mammoth recovered in 2007 (Image: GETTY)
“I believe that miracles are possible.”
The scientists plan to take DNA from mammoth remains found in permafrost for cloning.
Woolly mammoths would likely be born and initially cared for by an elephant surrogate mother.
Cloning experiments have been taking place in Yakutsk, the capital of Yakutia, on extinct ancient horses and cave lions.
There is already a Pleistocene Park in Yakutia, which imitates the environment which existed when mammoth lived.
It is unclear whether Mr Nikoleav hopes to use this existing facility or construct another.