For the first time in history, the Siberian region of Yakuria has been the scene of the discovery of the remains of an Ice Age cave bear, perfectly preserved thanks to the cold.
According to experts, the cave bear appears to have been frozen for at least 22,000 years deep in Siberia.
The body of this now extinct animal was discovered on the Lyakhovsky Islands in the far northeast of Russia by reindeer herders. The bear is believed to be between 22,000 and 39,500 years old , but researchers are looking to conduct radiocarbon analysis to determine a much more precise age.
Up to the muzzle
“This is the first and only find of its kind: a bear carcass complete with soft tissue. It is completely preserved, with all the internal organs in place, including the muzzle ”, commented Lena Grigorieva, from NEFU and co-author of the work. “Previously, only skulls and bones were found. This finding is of great importance to everyone. “
Now “it is necessary to perform a radiocarbon analysis to determine the precise age of the bear,” say the experts.
The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus ) is a prehistoric species or subspecies that lived across much of Eurasia until it became extinct about 15,000 years ago. Among the factors related to their disappearance is the excessive hunting of humans and Neanderthals.
This species could grow even larger than the brown bear, with some specimens weighing up to 1,000 kilograms. However, despite their massive size, they were herbivores.
Referencia: NEFU
