Woolly mammoths – giants of the Ice Age

The guest exhibition of the Museum of Međimurje Čakovec brings visitors the story of the woolly mammoth, one of the most famous animals of the Ice Age, while also providing a glimpse into the distant geological past of the Earth, climate change and the development of the living world. In addition to an overview of the life and adaptations of this extinct species, the exhibition also draws attention to the importance of paleontological findings for understanding past ecosystems and climate change, and represents an entry point into understanding geological and natural history heritage.

The woolly mammoth was shaped by nature through a long-term evolutionary process, but the same nature, through major climate changes, caused its disappearance. Precisely this can be a strong warning to humans today, who are increasingly disrupting the natural balance with their actions.

The proboscis fossil finds from the Museum of Međimurje Čakovec give the exhibition special value, as they testify to the rich paleontological heritage of the Međimurje region. They are fossils of Upper Pleistocene woolly mammoths, as well as fossil tusks from the Neogene geological period. According to the method of collection, all are accidental finds, and most originate from the alluvium of the Mura and Drava rivers, while four specimens were found during coal mining near Mursko Središće.

The author of the exhibition is Branka Marciuš, senior curator of archaeological collections at the Museum of Međimurje Čakovec. The exhibition is the result of collaboration between the Museum of Međimurje Čakovec and the Croatian Museum of Natural History.

The exhibition will remain open until August 31, 2026.