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Whiskers still bristling after more than 12,000 years in the Siberian cold 

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17 November 2015

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Today in Yakutsk, the coldest city on Earth, the pre-historic specimens were revealed to the media in a permafrost cave, perhaps reminiscent of their natural habitat when they roamed Siberia. Picture here and below: Vera Salnitskaya

The ancient cubs, called Uyan and Dina, the best-preserved ever seen of this long-gone species, are a 'sensational' find, according to scientists who normally choose their adjectives with studied caution. 

Today in Yakutsk, the coldest city on Earth, the pre-historic specimens were revealed to the media in a permafrost cave, perhaps reminiscent of their natural habitat when they roamed Siberia. 

They were displayed on giant slabs of ice, the size of plump domestic cats. The permafrost preserved them in wondrous lifelike detail for at least 12,000 years but they could be even more ancient: only now will tests commence to establish their true age.

Frozen cave lions


Frozen cave lions


Frozen lion cubs

The permafrost preserved them in wondrous lifelike detail for at least 10,000 years. 

The cubs were found in Abyisky district, on the bank of the Uyandina River,' said Dr Albert Protopopov, head of the mammoth fauna studies department of the Yakutian Academy of Sciences. 

There was a summer rise in the river level, and when the water subsided there were landslides and cracks. Worker Yakov Androsov said: 'In one crack, we saw an ice lens with some pieces inside. We decided to take a closer look and found the cubs.' 

The river is just below the Arctic Circle, some 1,045 kilometres north east of regional capital Yakutsk. 'This find, beyond any doubt, is sensational,' said Protopopov. The cubs 'are complete with all their body parts: fur, ears, soft tissue and even whiskers'. They are, he claimed, unique in the world, the most complete remains of cave lions ever found. 

Frozen cave lions


Frozen cave lions


Frozen cave lions


Frozen cave lions


Frozen cave lions

The cubs were the size of plump domestic cats.

Might it be possible to clone the cave lions? The scientists were not ready to discuss the issue, although there are plans to use DNA found in remains of ancient, extinct woolly mammoths in the same region to bring the beasts back to life. 'I would not talk about cloning now. Our main task here is to decipher the genome and to work with it. I think that  speculation about cloning is very premature.'

Yet these cave lions are, he claimed, unique in the world, the most complete ever found.

Yakov Androsov


Yakov Androsov

Worker Yakov Androsov, who found the cubs (top). Yakov Androsov(right) poses with Vasily Gorokhov(left), who found mammoth Yuka.

The Siberian Times revealed the existence of the lion cubs last month, provoking interest from around the world. Yet today is the first time the remains of these ancient creatures have been widely seen, revealed by Russian scientists more familiar with discovering the relics of the extinct woolly mammoth.

'Possibly, the cubs died in a hole, in a landslide, and afterwards this site was never affected by weather,' said the academic. 'This is how we explain such unique preservation of the animals.'

Frozen cave lions


Frozen cave lions


Frozen cave lions


Frozen cave lions

'Possibly, the cubs died in a hole, in a landslide, and afterwards this site was never affected by weather.'

Dr Protopopov said: 'Comparing with the modern lion cubs, we think that these two were very small, maybe a week or two old. The eyes were not quite open, they have baby teeth and not all had appeared. 

'We do not know the gender, but we will give them the names in honour of Uyandina river, where they were found, that is Uyan and Dina assuming one is male and other female. Yet we have options for two females - Uyana and Dina, or two males - Uyan and Din.'

Further research will include an MRI scan, and radiocarbon dating probably at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. But the Siberian team wants to find and co-operate with a world renowned expert of lion cubs.

Albert Protopopov


Frozen lion cub


Frozen lion cubs

Albert Protopopov: 'This find, beyond any doubt, is sensational.'

Scientist Dr Gennady Boeskorov said: 'The main complexity of our task is that here we have not adult lions, but cubs, so we are searching for the specialists experienced in the research of cubs. It's interesting to see the adaptive mechanisms, which helped them to survive in the cold. They definitely differed from the modern lions, and we think there should be something that allowed them to adapt to the climate.'

Dr Protopopov said: 'We suppose that the cave lioness behaved like the modern lioness in pride,' he said. 'It seems like she gave birth to the cubs and hid them in cave or hole to protect from the hungry lion. Then the landslide covered it and they remained surrounded in permafrost. Also the air intake was blocked, and this helped their preservation.'

Gennady Boeskorov


Frozen lion cub


Frozen lion cub

Dr Gennady Boeskorov said: 'The main complexity of our task is that here we have not adult lions, but cubs.'

Next year researchers will go back to the site and search for remains of possibly one more cub, or even the lioness. 

The remote region where the lions were found, known as Yakutia or the  Sakha Republic, is the largest in the Russian Federation. The cave lions became extinct round 12,000 years ago. 

Cave lions - Panthera spelaea (Goldfuss) - lived during Middle and Late Pleistocene times on the Eurasian continent, from the British Isles to Chukotka in the extreme east of Russia, and they also roamed Alaska and northwestern Canada. Finds of  their remains are rare, and the Yakutian scientists  have no hesitation in saying that this pair are best preserved ever unearthed in the world. 

Map


Map

The cubs were found in Abyisky district, on the bank of the Uyandina River, in 57 kilometres from Belaya Gora village. 

After the ice lions were found, tests were conducted to ensure they did not carry ancient diseases: but they were given the all clear. Research on the two cubs could help to explain why the species died out around 10,000 years ago, since the animal had few predators, was smaller than herbivores, and was not prone to getting bogged down in swamps, as did woolly mammoths and rhinos.

One theory is a decline in deer and cave bears, their prey, caused their demise.  

Comments (15)

While this find as well as others are truly incredible & I love being able to see & learn about these now extinct little ones, I think we should take a moment to address the 'elephant in the room' if you will... The only reason why these lion cubs were discovered is because the permafrost melted enough. Yeah, it has lead to some awe-inspiring, mind boggling discoveries (with more to come... A foal, a wolf head, more mammoths & even another cave lion cub in much better condition), but it's a double-edged sword. I think I'd rather all these things remain in their frozen afterlife than have them exposed to our climate, pollution (bc those things are going to destroy them... As well as these individuals who bare-handed them *sigh*). It's undoubtedly cool, pardon the pun. Also, has no one seen Jurassic Park/Jurassic World?! Look what cloning extinct species got them. This is one instance where I'd rather art not imitate life, life imitate art? Whichever way.
Sawyer Roddenberry, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
31/07/2020 23:39
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Yay for science it has and will do wonders. But I offered wonder if scientist in the future (50-150 hrs doesn't look back and say what fools we were. Like the archeologist and forisics of the past
Jeffrey j, Seattle, WA
12/12/2015 17:04
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Trully sensansional
Truong Phu Cuong, HCMC, Vietnam
29/11/2015 12:23
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why even talk of cloning these cubs and the wholly mammoth, when they would just be made to suffer in zoos. All we do is destroy the land and our wildlife along with it
Anne Watson, Canada
26/11/2015 06:47
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Thank you Siberian Times for this coverage of the cave lions. It's wonderful we have the opportunity to learn about the past through the little bodies of these lions.
william soule, South Haven Mi
21/11/2015 03:06
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Someone please tell them not to touch the cubs with bare hands - it is hard to watch how they ruin this find.
Bohdan, Ukraine
19/11/2015 18:49
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Seems that our ancestors contributed somewhat to the demise of cave lions - by out competing them. Our technology -especially the harnessing and use of fire would have given them a hand up in the competition for food. Fascinating. The Lions adorning the Chauvet caves date to about 30,000 years ago. By the time these cubs were born our ancestors had spread across Europe and Asia and competition was most likely intense
Kris Marais, Cape Town
19/11/2015 17:57
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Truly sensational...the whiskers still visible evokes an emotional tangibility. With so many animals now extinct that we can only research and appreciate via books and imagination etc. these finds give an insight into the miracle of our world...thousands of years after extinction and they appear...what else must lie preserved in frozen time?
Carmen, Ireland
19/11/2015 05:30
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This is more proof that some big event happened 10000 years ago that destroyed the high civilization that lived at the time
Marcus, Canada
19/11/2015 02:23
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I was surprised to see photos of people handling the cubs' bodies with bare hands while also exposing them to warmer temperatures. This contaminates the bodies with both human DNA and live, modern bacteria, promoting decomposition.and creating problems for future research.
D. Shaffer, Arizona, USA
19/11/2015 00:51
48
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If cloned keep them safe no poachers from Safari Club any near of them. :(
Maria , Finland
19/11/2015 00:17
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As young and well preserved as these lion cubs are; one would think they would be ideal for cloning. As they have near relatives still in existence, this would be even more possible.
Seneca, Byesville, Ohio, USA
18/11/2015 23:37
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I am retired in the mountains. Seeing the vast world of Siberia is always an eye opening pleasure. How may I acquire photos and books of the many discoveries made by the many professionals of Siberia ?
Joseph fields, grants pass ,oregon, USA
18/11/2015 06:22
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Thank you for a well written story..I'm looking forward to reading The Siberia Times weekly from now on
Paula, Australia
18/11/2015 00:46
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I would agree - the find is sensational. I am very keen to read about further tests on the age of the two cubs. It will also be fascinating to find out how they compare to modern lions and/or tigers.
Siberian Times you are doing a brilliant job of keeping us up to speed on science developments from your region.
Thank-you
Steven Lang, Grahamstown, South Africa
17/11/2015 19:54
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