Taichung enters the Ice Age with Yukagir and Oymiakon

Words and photos by Taichung City Government
Translated by Ann Lee

Taipei's Ice Age Mammoth Exhibition, which drew over 550,000 visitors, arrived at Taichung's National Museum of Natural Science in November and will continue until March 1, 2009. Discovered in Russia's Yakut-Sakha Republic, a pair of 18,000-year-old mammoths, Yukagir and Oymiakon, are the centerpiece of this popular display.

Yukagir and Oymiakon are kept in an exhibition case where the temperature is maintained at negative 15 degrees Celsius. The larger mammoth, Yukagir, a is male whose head and tusks weigh 219.5 kilograms. The tusks are 3.1 meters long while its left front leg is 118 centimeters long and weighs 64.8 kilograms. When first uncovered, the animal's head and one front leg were found in great condition.

Oymiakon's appearance in Taiwan is significant, as it was only unearthed in 2004 and is being displayed publicly for the very first time. When first uncovered by the scientists, this frozen smaller mammoth was fully intact. While some body parts disintegrated upon contact with the air, its head and trunk survived and upper parts of the animal--measuring 112 centimeters long--are in great shape.

Exhibition organizer, paleontologist Dr. Chang Chun-hsiang, is currently Taiwan's only scholar focusing his research on mammoths. According to Chang, Yukagir fell while hunting on a glacier and was buried in the snow, while Oymiakon drowned in a swamp.

Face-to-face at 30 centimeters
Although Oymiakon is the smaller mammoth, it's twice as old as Yukagir, entering the world 30,000 to 40,000 years ago, versus Yukagir's appearance about 18,000 years ago. Dr. Chang also notes that the mammoth's fur was originally pure black, and turned blond after contact with the air.

The main difference and advantage of Taichung's mammoth exhibition by comparison with Taipei's is that visitors get to observe these Ice Age creatures up close. From only 30 centimeters through the glass, the public can see clearly of Yukagir's blond hair and Oymiakon's eyes and ears. Thanks to a generous bank sponsorship, Taichung's exhibition--unlike Taipei and Japan events--also features an installed snowflake maker to create an Ice Age ambiance. The result has been an exciting experience for local visitors.

Open during the Chinese New Year holiday
Science Museum Director Chang Tien-jie notes that also although his museum is normally closed on the first day of the Chinese New Year, it will remain open on that day for this year's Mammoth Exhibition, in cooperation with the United Daily News. During the exhibition, prizes are also being given away to visitors, who have a chance to win by holding onto their admission tickets. The top prize is an Acer Eee PC laptop computer. On January 2, February 3 and March 2, 10 lucky winners will be selected, with their names posted on the website (noted below) each month.

Exhibition tickets are NT$200, with a 10% discount for students. Tickets purchased between Tuesday and Friday will include a notebook worth NT$120. Taiwan Cooperative Bank issued credit cards will also enjoy a 10% discount (maximum four tickets per card). For more information, visit the exhibition website, http://www.mammoth.com.tw/

Getting to the Mammoth Exhibition:
Via Car:
No. 1 Freeway:
1. Get off at the TaichungGang Rd. exit and then follow TaichungGang Rd. to the Science Museum.
2. Alternately, get off at the ZhongQing/Daya Rd. exit and take ZhongQing Rd., which becomes Daya Rd. Turn left on JianXing Rd. and continue to Science Museum.
No.3 Freeway:
1. Get off at the KwieGuan exit onto the ZhongZhang Expressway (Rt. 74) and get off at the WuQuan W. Rd. exit. Take WuQuan W. Rd. to to WenXin Rd., turn left, and continue to TaichungGang Rd. Turn left and continue to Science Museum.
2. Alternately, get off at the KwieGuan exit and follow ShiZheng Rd. to WenXin Rd. Turn left and continue to TaichungGang Rd.

Via public transportation
* Taichung Bus Company: Nos. 27、35、70、71、88、103、106、146、147
Tel: 0800-800126
* RenYo Bus Company: Nos. 22、37、45、48、72、125
Tel: (04) 2225-5492
* UBus: Nos. 77、83
Tel: (04) 2226-3034

Via High Speed Rail
From the Taichung Station, take the free shuttle bus to China Medical University and get off at the SOGO Department Store stop. The museum is a 5-minute's walk from there. (04) 3601-5000