*The Ark animals left but their kids went back. You know how kids are...
2. How long does it take to petrify animals?
*It is documented that at the San Diego Zoo an elephant went belly-up and became instantaneously petrified.when Barbra Streisand walked past. (Admittedly, that was unusual)
3. Was anything ever pertified without being buried in mineral soil?
*Yes. Lot's wife, who, by the way, is STILL more attractive than Barbra Streisand
The pillar of salt was still there during Roman times. It was a tourist attraction. It might still be there even now, but the location has been forgotten. It might have been in Persia, which doesn't narrow the search all that much.