An exceptionally well-preserved woolly rhino, with several of its internal organs intact, has been unearthed from the thawing permafrost in Siberia. According to the Siberian Times, the Ice Age relic was revealed in August in the Yakutia region of northern Russia, an area known for such remarkable discoveries. This particular find is thought to be one of the best-preserved woolly rhinos discovered in the region so far.
The rhino, estimated to be a juvenile between three and four years old at the time of its death, likely perished between 20,000 and 50,000 years ago. Thanks to its frozen state beneath the permafrost, much of the carcass has remained remarkably intact. Its discovery includes traces of its hazel-colored fur, soft tissues, intestines, teeth, fatty deposits, and even its horn.
Dr. Valery Plotnikov of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), who first examined the remains, commented, "The young rhino was likely three to four years old and had begun to live independently from its mother when it died, possibly by drowning." The animal's sex remains undetermined, and radiocarbon dating is pending to narrow down the exact age, with estimates ranging between 20,000 to 50,000 years.
Interestingly, this find was made close to where another famous woolly rhino, Sasha, the only baby woolly rhino ever discovered, was unearthed in 2014. Sasha’s remains, with striking strawberry-blonde fur, were dated to around 34,000 years old. The new discovery, however, presents a woolly rhino with notably thick, short underfur.
Sasha’s discovery previously provided solid evidence that woolly rhinos were covered in dense fur, which had only been inferred from cave paintings before. This new specimen reinforces the idea that these Ice Age creatures were well-adapted to the frigid climate from a young age.
At present, the recently unearthed rhino is still in Yakutia, awaiting transport to the capital, Yakutsk, for further analysis. Due to the icy conditions, the region relies on frozen roads to facilitate the transportation of such finds.
Yakutia is renowned for uncovering a wide range of ancient creatures, and due to the ongoing thawing of permafrost, especially in summer, more prehistoric animals are emerging. Recent discoveries include ancient wolf pups, "pygmy" mammoths, cave lions, birds, foals, and even a proto-dog pup. While the melting permafrost signals challenges for the environment, it has become an extraordinary source of information about Earth's prehistoric inhabitants.
