A groundbreaking study has revealed that woolly mammoths may have struggled with allergies in their final days, potentially contributing to their extinction.
Conducted by a team of chemists and zoologists, the research analyzed frozen mammoth tissue, uncovering antibodies and allergens that suggest these iconic creatures suffered from respiratory issues similar to modern-day hay fever.
“This was the first study where fragments of immunoglobulins were found in remains tens of thousands of years old,” said Gleb Zilberstein, the study's first author, in an interview with The Telegraph.
Woolly mammoths roamed North America, Asia, and northern Europe until their extinction approximately 4,000 years ago. While climate change and human hunting have long been considered the primary factors for their decline, this new discovery points to allergies as a potential contributing factor.
Researchers found that these ancient animals likely experienced diminished olfactory abilities due to pollen-induced nasal congestion. This impairment could have severely impacted their ability to find food, water, and mates, ultimately affecting their reproductive success.
“The development of allergies from plant pollen, changes in pollen’s allergic toxicity, and an increase in flowering plants during climate change may have diminished their sensitivity to odors during the breeding season,” the study explains.
The analysis revealed traces of antibodies in frozen mammoth remains discovered in Siberia, along with organic compounds linked to pollen, indicating that they were inhaling pollen-rich air. As new plant species proliferated during a warming climate, the increase in pollen could have led to respiratory issues, complicating their survival.
Ultimately, the study suggests that the combination of environmental changes, coupled with allergic reactions, may have played a significant role in the decline of woolly mammoths, providing a new perspective on the complexities of their extinction.
