An immaculately preserved carcass of an Ice Age cave bear was found by the researchers. This was informed on Monday.
This is a breakthrough for the researchers as the cave bear was expected to be way back to 22,000 to 39,500 years ago.
Researchers at the North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk said on Monday that the reindeer herders in a Russian Arctic archipelago have found the immaculately preserved carcass of an Ice Age cave bear that lived between 22,000 to 39,500 years ago.
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This is a perfectly preserved Ice Age cave bear discovered in Arctic Russia. The animal is revealed because of the melting permafrost. It was found on the Lyakhovsky Islands with its teeth and nose intact. Previously, scientists had been able to discover only the bones of cave bears that became extinct 15,000 years ago.
In a statement issued by the university, a researcher, Lena Grigorieva emphasized that
this is the first and only find of its kind – a whole bear varcass with soft tissues.
It is completely preserved, with all internal organs in place, including even its nose. This find is of great importance for the whole world.
A severe heatwave this summer that led to the Siberian fires was helpful in this major discovery. The wildfires have caused the heatwave in the region. Lyakhovsky group also discovered a carcass of a cave bear cub which was found in Yakutia’s mainland another part of the area.
The researchers also believe that the permafrost melting may unleash many more secrets of nature that got buried. Discoveries of mammoths, woolly rhinos, Ice age foals, several puppies, and cave lion cubs across the tracts of Siberia were made possible by these heatwaves caused by the Siberian wildfires.
But, at the same time, the scientists also warn that ancient diseases may also get unleashed due to these heatwaves.