‘Nun cho ga,’ the rare baby mammoth found in Yukon, heads to Ottawa

After an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 years frozen in one spot, Nun cho ga is again on the move — this time, being carried across the country to Ottawa by a delegation of Indigenous elders.

Nun cho ga is the name that was given to the almost perfectly-preserved baby mammoth that was dug up by a miner in 2022 near Dawson City, Yukon.

The rare find made headlines around the world and excited local paleontologists as it was deemed to be the first whole baby mammoth to be found in North America, and the second in the world. 

The mammoth also inspired awe among some local Indigenous leaders, who felt a spiritual connection to the ancient animal. It was found on Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in lands and the First Nation took the lead in determining what happens with it.

Now, after a year and a half in a Dawson City freezer, Nun cho ga is being transported to the Canadian Conservation Institute in Ottawa, where it will be carefully preserved.

A delegation of Indigenous elders drove the animal to Whitehorse on Friday, and this weekend they’ll be on a plane to Ottawa, chartered by the Yukon government. First Nations heritage staff and Yukon government conservation specialists will also be making the trip. 

The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation regards Nun cho ga as a spiritual ancestor and sees the journey as akin to a funeral procession. They declined to speak about the trip to Ottawa, asking for privacy and respect.

 Nun cho ga is expected to eventually return to Dawson City. The First Nation has not said what the long-term plans are for the animal.