In a remarkable discovery, scientists have unearthed a 32,000-year-old woolly rhinoceros, perfectly preserved in ice, in the Siberian region of Russia.
The body of this ancient creature, which belonged to a now-extinct species of rhinoceros, was found largely intact, providing researchers with a rare opportunity to study the species up close.
The young rhino, estimated to have been only four years old at the time of its death, was found frozen near the Tirekhtyakh River in August 2020. Due to the extreme cold of the Siberian glaciers, its body remained well-preserved, with much of its fur, skin, and some internal organs intact. However, the left side of the rhino had suffered damage, likely from scavenging animals, and its intestines were missing.
This ancient species, known as the woolly rhinoceros, roamed the cold plains of eastern Siberia over 30,000 years ago. Like modern-day rhinos, they had two horns, but these horns were larger and sharper, resembling blades. Their thick fur helped them survive in the harsh, frozen environment of the Ice Age.
The discovery of the frozen rhino was detailed in the journal Doklady Earth Sciences. Researchers believe that such well-preserved ancient creatures can offer valuable insights into species that have long been extinct, shedding light on their evolution, behavior, and habitat.
