A skeleton of an extinct elephant that lived 15,000 years ago was sold at auction for 548,000 euros in the French city of Lyon.
Standing more than three meters high, the complete skeleton was bought by a Strasbourg-based company Soprema.
Art expert Eric Mickeler said that the extinct giant from the Ice Age has two gleaming three-meter-long tusks that weigh nearly 160 kilograms, Reuters reported.
“It’s an exceptional specimen, first because of its size. It is a very big specimen,” Mickeler added.
Auctioneer Claude Aguttes said: “It was estimated to be worth between 450,000 and 490,000 euros. However, the skeleton fetched a record price for mammoth skeletons, beating the last sale worth 315,000 euros in Paris 10 years ago.”
Aguttes said Soprema's representative was present during the auction, and said they would display the skeleton in their headquarters.
The skeleton will be collapsed and delivered before Christmas to Soprema's office in Strasbourg.
