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How did human hunting contribute to the decline of woolly mammoths?

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Replica of a woolly mammoth with long curved tusks and shaggy fur on display in a museum exhibit, set against a dramatic painted landscape backdrop. — de-extinction The woolly mammoth (*Mammuthus primigenius*)—represented here by a replica in a Canadian museum—is an example of an extinct species that someday could be resurrected through de-extinction.

Scientific evidence indicates that human hunting was a contributing factor to the decline and eventual extinction of the woolly mammoth, though it acted in combination with other environmental pressures.12

As the Earth’s climate warmed following the last ice age, the woolly mammoth’s habitat—the mammoth steppe—was significantly reduced. This climatic shift placed the species under stress, making them more vulnerable to the impact of human activity.12

The "prehistoric overkill hypothesis" suggests that as humans expanded into new territories, they hunted large mammals that were unfamiliar with and unafraid of them. However, this theory remains a subject of scientific debate. Critics point to a lack of sufficient archaeological evidence linking human hunters to the decline of these specific populations, the likely small size of human hunter groups, and the fact that the decline of many species often preceded the arrival of humans in certain regions. Ultimately, the extinction of the woolly mammoth is viewed as a complex event driven by the synergy of human hunting and significant habitat loss due to climate change.312