Museum Monday: Zed the Mammoth
Meet Zed. This ice-age Columbian mammoth is massive and was around 47-51 years old when he died (usual life expectancy was likely 60.) He was found at the Rancho La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles back in 2006 when the LA County Museum of Art was expanding and building a new parking garage. He likely died while wandering into a stream to drink water, unaware of the danger lurking below the surface. He ultimately became stuck and died of exhaustion or starvation. Luckily for us, scavengers didn't go after his bones, and he likely was quickly covered up. He is
