Joe Rogan’s Podcast Has Sent Its Listeners on a Wild Hunt for ‘50 Tons’ of Mammoth Fossils in New York City’s East River

People aren't exactly jumping to take a swim in the East River in NYC, but that hasn't stopped a wild rumor from causing a stir. Apparently, a large amount of valuable mammoth bones were dumped there by the American Museum of Natural History 80 years ago.

This rumor was fueled by a recent episode of the popular podcast "The Joe Rogan Experience". A guest, John Reeves, shared a story about the bones, claiming they were extremely valuable. Despite the dangerous conditions in the East River (strong currents, large vessel traffic, and freezing temperatures), some listeners are determined to find the sunken remains of these prehistoric mammals.

Underwater treasure hunters have taken the plunge, but so far, no one has found anything. The auction record for a complete mammoth skeleton is over $600,000, and these extinct megafauna have always fascinated the US audience. It seems implausible that the American Museum of Natural History would dispose of such valuable fossils, but according to Reeves, they threw out 50 tons of bones and tusks because they considered their condition to be poor. The museum denies any record of this disposal and considers the tale implausible.