The Curious Woolly Mammoth

For two years already, a woolly mammoth has stood atop a shiny platform in a large museum.

This mammoth had been found in frozen ground on a distant island. Remarkably, its bones, skin, tusks, and other body parts were extremely well preserved, which made it an especially rare specimen. Naturally, the museum prepared the best and grandest place to display it.

The ancient mammoth is exhibited under extra powerful spotlights. A golden plaque on the wall states its Latin name: Mammuthus primigenius. Every day of the week, apart from Mondays (when the museum is closed), at least a hundred awestruck visitors pass-by to stare at it.

Little kids would often shout out: “Look, it’s an elephant!” And their parents would correct them: “It’s not an elephant, it’s a mammoth!"

Curious visitors would snap photos — everyone wanted to have a souvenir. Seeing a real mammoth is not an ordinary experience!

But then one day, this woolly mammoth, illuminated by all those glittering lights and glowing eyes, experienced something else …

The mammoth came to life. His mind was instantly filled with thoughts and memories. It rather scared him, so he didn’t let anyone know he was alive. He decided to keep standing still on the pedestal, like a statue, and watch all the visitors.

He listened to the smiling children say “Wow, what a big elephant!” over and over again.

The mammoth was perplexed. What is this ‘elephant’ they’re on about? He had never heard of such an animal. After all, the label clearly said Mammuthus. He really wanted to know why he was being mistaken for an elephant.

And then one Sunday, a boy wearing a yellow-and-black t-shirt stood in front of him and exclaimed:

“Mum, look, it’s a woolly mammoth!”

…