100 million roubles earned by the Yukagir Mammoth in Japan to invest in the World Mammoth Museum

YAKUTSK . On September 4, 2006 the head of the Yukagir mammoth returned home from 9 months exhibition tour across Japan. Yesterday the representatives of SakhaEXPOmammoth Ltd, mobile show co-organizer, gave press conference.

Since December of 2005 the unique exhibit had been displaying in three Japanese cities: Nagoya , Tokyo and Toyohashi . According to SakhaEXPOmammoth chief Vladimir Potapov, that was the first commercial project with the Yukagir mammoth and it completed successfully. Considerable public excitement is just gaining ground, he said. After that, the exhibit organizer is determined to display the palaeontology discovery in Western Japan.

In Japan the mammoth head had been seen by 500 thousand people. A pass ticket was sold for about $6.5—7. The spectators under 3 and above 65 years old could visit the exhibition for free. “There were too many persons wishing to admire an Ice Age resident's part. In the beginning of the tour, one can see 10 thousand people standing in queue,” said Mr. Vladimir Potapov. Exhibition's net profit is equal to 100 million roubles ($3.74 million). All earnings will go for funding the construction of World Mammoth Museum in Yakutsk.

Actual project mission was to promote Yakutia. The exhibition contained video, photos and other staff presenting Yakutia to international audience. There were also music performances by the Khatylaevs and Albina Degtyareva's Ayarkhaan.

At present, mammoth head is kept in a local ice-house. In two months, it will be again displayed in Japan . This time in Fukuoki, Osaki and Sapporo .

A reasonable question was asked to abroad exhibition arrangers: ‘When will Yakutians have turn to see its common property?' Funny thing. The Yukagir mammoth have never been displayed in the region of its discovery. The answer was ‘In May 2007 in the premises of Yaroslavsky Museum.'

// 07.09.2006

Reported by Tatyana Simakova, YSIA.
Translated by YakutiaToday.Com.