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Nature reflects our nature
Woolly Mammoth Revival: Obligation or Obnoxiousness
thawing of the permafrost releasing the carbon
dioxide to the atmosphere which in turn contrib-
utes to global warming creating a positive feed-
back loop. Woolly mammoths were responsible
The charismatic beasts, Woolly mammoth which to trample the trees, mosses, and shrubs lead-
once ruled the tundra region of Alaska, Canada ing to the sustained grassland ecosystem. The
and Siberia known as “Mammoth Steppe” during grassland is efficient in reflecting back a large
the Pleistocene epoch vanished at last from the amount of the sunlight absorbing very less heat
Wrangle Island located in the Arctic Ocean. No that prevents the thawing of the permafrost and
mortal knows exactly how they were wiped out. hence prevents the release of the carbon diox-
However, scientists have speculated that they ide. In this regard, it is obligatory to reintroduce
must have been edged to extinction either due the giant mammals for the sake of solving global
to global warming or due to human hunting. With warming.
the advancement in genetic engineering, scien-
tists are attempting to resurrect the long-gone gi- While on the flip side, there is still a dilemma of
gantic mammals and they can succeed to some whether or not they should be revived. Despite
extent. Now, the question is – is it an obligation their ample benefits with regard to the solution
to revive the woolly mammoth or is it yet another of global warming, there arises a question – are
obnoxious activity of the brilliant Homo sapiens? they the only mammals that are responsible to
solve the problems of global warming? They
With the question “Is this process of de-extinc- have been extinct for more than 10,000 years
tion necessary?” comes two facet analysis. In and within this period, the niche they had oc-
one hand, the woolly mammoths were respon- cupied for years could have been overcome by
sible to maintain the grassland ecosystem in the some other organism. By now, we are adapted to
Mammoth steppe during the Pleistocene epoch living without the Woolly mammoth. Even if there
and also to prevent the melting away of the per- has been no other solution yet, better solutions
mafrost. Permafrost is the permanently frozen can be fetched. Instead of re-introducing these
layer below the earth surface made up of soil, behemoths, smaller mammals such as bison
rock, sand and organic matters bound togeth- and horses can be organized.
er by ice that is maintained at a temperature
below 0°C for at least two consecutive years. There is no question about “How?” but about
Permafrost is believed to have trapped twice “Should?” The advancement in Genetic Engi-
the carbon dioxide than that present in the at- neering has been culminating. There is no doubt
mosphere. Global warming has resulted in the that even the woolly mammoths can be revived.
“Now, the question is – is it an obligation to revive
the woolly mammoths or is it yet another obnox-
ious activity of the brilliant Homo sapiens?”
Nature and Social Concern Society
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