The last woolly mammoths survived for 6,000 years after the Ice Age. In 2024, scientists challenged the idea that inbreeding caused their extinction

The last woolly mammoths on Wrangel Island survived for 6,000 years after the Ice Age, until around 1650 BC.

A 2024 study in Cell titled 'Temporal dynamics of woolly mammoth genome erosion prior to extinction' challenged the idea that inbreeding caused their extinction.

The population began with around 8 founders and recovered to an effective population of 200–300, remaining demographically stable for over 200 generations.

Genetic analysis showed that while the mammoths carried markers of a small, isolated population, those changes alone did not cause their demise.