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Cute first pictures of new 50,000 year old cave lion cub found perfectly preserved in permafrost

By 0 and 0 and 0
12 September 2018

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Baby - around one month old when it died, too young to open his eyes - was found by local resident Pavel Efimov. Picture: Valery Plotnikov

Meet Spartak the extinct cave lion cub. His find is a major boost to scientists seeking to clone the lost species back to life. 

Discovery of the cub - christened Spartak - is seen as one of the big successes of the summer season in Yakutia where major hunts are underway to find remains of extinct animals such as the once-prolific cave lion, and the woolly mammoths and rhinos.  

The frozen kitten has been preserved as if lifelike for up to 50,000 years. 

He was found a few weeks ago - and these are his first pictures. 

Scientist Dr Valery Plotnikov said the baby - around one month old when it died, too young to open his eyes - was found by local resident Pavel Efimov.

New cave lion cub


New cave lion cub

Discovery of the cub - christened Spartak - is seen as one of the big successes of the summer season in Yakutia. Picture: Valery Plotnikov

'The carcass is whole - the soft tissues, fur, and its long tail have remained intact. 

‘The lion is no more than one month old. 

‘There is an assumption that this is the brother or sister of a kitten, found last year - the location is very close.' 

He told The Siberian Times: 'It could have been a lioness with two cubs.

'Another lion cub, called Boris, was found in this very spot but just 15 metres away last year.

‘So it could have been a lion family.’

Spartak will be ‘wrapped in film and covered in wet snow….then he will be put in the freezer to await study.’

Frozen cave lion cub


New cave lion cub


Frozen cave lion cub


Frozen cave lion cub


Frozen cave lion cub


‘There is an assumption that this is the brother or sister of a kitten, found last year - the location is very close.' Pictures: Valery Plotnikov

A team of scientists from Yakutia along with foreign colleagues from Sweden, the United States, and Britain is continuing the research.

Last year Boris was also described as being in ‘perfect condition’.

An enchanting picture showed this cub resting his head on his paw. 

At the time, expert Dr Albert Protopopov said the find raises hopes of cloning the species back to life.

The condition of the latest cubs is better than of two earlier tiny cave lions named Uyan and Dina - found three years ago. 

Spartak, like Boris, was  found in permafrost on the bank of Tirekhtykh River, in the Abyisky district of Yakutia, also known as the Sakha Republic. 

He will be moved in the coming months to regional capital Yakutsk for analysis.

Two earlier tiny cave lions named Uyan and Dina - found three years ago. Pictures: Vera Salnitskaya

Frozen cave lions


Frozen lion cub


Frozen cave lions


Frozen cave lions


Frozen cave lion cubs

Comments (16)

I love these cave-lion cubs! They're so cute! I hope they discover more and give them adorable names!
Anonymous, colorado america
28/07/2019 01:10
1
3
Yeah! Their cute little kittens....Until their not.
This cute lion cub looks like the clone could grow to be supersized. Like the saber-toothed Smilodon (googled it) which they say could weigh anywhere from 490 lbs to 880 lbs. Yikes!
My guess is if they play with nature, they're gonna get hurt.
Everything has their time in this world. Animals, humans, plants etc..
Although very intriguing, I'm not so sure this is a good idea.
Celia Horter, United States
13/07/2019 17:40
2
5
Ted, other challenges include a limited gene pool; species not having evolved with diseases, illnesses and changes to diet; their niche in the ecosystem no longer existing let alone the ecosystem itself still in existance; gut health etc and being able to digest modern versions of their diet; and natural instincts being hindered by lack of role models and over familiarity with humans. Ethically, I think bringing back an extinct species from so long ago is intriguing but selfish to the animal. Our efforts are better put into recovering recently extinct species where these things are less of an issue and the potential for their survival is greater.
Kaz, Australia
17/06/2019 22:15
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I am surprised everyone is for this, didn't you see Jurassic Park? LOL
Tom Nelson, auburn/USA
19/04/2019 08:55
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That is a 1 month old cub? That cub looks pretty big for one month. These things must of been monsters.
Justin, Seattle wa
02/03/2019 17:02
6
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Watching Lost Beasts of the Ice Age and they just found a pristine lion cub with squished back feet. The seem to have left it where they found it though (a shame if true). But is this the same one I wonder?
Steven Eighner, United States
25/02/2019 07:49
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I really hope that they can manage to clone them. The fact that they went extinct doesn't mean that that process was unavoidable. Also dinosaur won't be extinct except for the meteor impact.
S.M., Italy
13/01/2019 23:02
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For the one who commented with "I am a professional hunter, cant wait for this lion to be revived and have it in my trophy wall".

I am going to assume you're taking the time out of a boring, empty life to troll therefore expecting a retaliation of comments otherwise I can not find the words to accurately describe your ignorance with the importance of this find but more so on the wonder to how you have made it thus far in life without being hit by a bus. Some things such as the level of stupid some people can achieve in their lives are far more mysterious than even the ability to clone a cave lion cub.
John, Australia
20/10/2018 14:26
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Cloning cave lions and mammoths will have good points and bad points, like most everything else.

Challenges for endangered existing species mostly come down to habitat-loss. In the Russian and North American sub-arctic, large expanses of functional habitat remain. The ecosystem there can support revived Ice Age species in a healthy way, and diversify & enrich it.
Ted Clayton, Forks, WA USA
21/09/2018 03:52
8
0
I am a professional hunter, cant wait for this lion to be revived and have it in my trophy wall...
me, home
14/09/2018 02:06
12
170
Will be a mistake to clone those animals that we found preserved in the permafrost
We need to investigate about then, and focus the effort in the preservation of the existing species
Joan, Spain
14/09/2018 01:43
31
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Hey Alex from Sweden, it's better to live your life AND be remembered 50,000 years later.
I-need-a-new-citizenship (and a brand new name), Somewhere out there
14/09/2018 00:20
16
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When I look at the pictures I think which is better, to grow up, live your life but never be remembered, or to die young and be remembered 50,000 years later.
Alex, Sweden
13/09/2018 19:54
36
1
万岁!~万岁!~万岁!~万岁!~万岁!
五万岁了!还保存得这么好!
姚剑申, 巨鹿/中国
13/09/2018 17:58
5
3
Que maravilllloso descubrimiento .
Juan, España
13/09/2018 17:56
3
3
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