A Team of Russian Scientists Examines the Remains of an Ancient Wolf Buried for 44,000 Years in Permafrost in Siberia.
Experts report that the adult male wolf discovered in Yakutia, eastern Russia, has intact fur, bones, internal organs, and teeth. The remains were transported to the Mammoth Museum Laboratory at the Northeast Federal University in Yakutsk for examination, according to Mail on June 21.
The intact teeth of the ancient wolf. (Photo: Michil Yakolev).
Permafrost is a layer of soil that remains frozen year-round, even during summer months, and can preserve organic materials for thousands of years. The ancient remains found in permafrost are among the most complete ever excavated, as the ice prevents the degradation of organic matter.
The wolf was discovered by local residents in 2021 at a depth of about 40 meters near the Tirekhtyakh River in the Abyi District of Yakutia, the coldest region of Russia. Experts state that this is the oldest wolf specimen they have ever examined, with its stomach still intact.
According to Dr. Albert Protopopov, head of the Animal Research Department at the Yakutia Academy of Sciences, the wolf’s stomach remains separate and uncontaminated. The research team hopes that the examination results will provide them with a direct insight into the creature from the Pleistocene era. “This is a large and actively hunting predator. We will have the opportunity to learn what it ate. Additionally, its stomach contains the remains of its prey,” Protopopov shared.
Dr. Maxim Cheprasov, head of the Mammoth Museum Laboratory, mentioned that he and his colleagues extracted a tooth to determine the biological age of the wolf. However, based on the wear of the teeth and the development of the mid-crest, they are certain that this is an adult male wolf.
Professor Artemy Goncharov, director of the Protein and Gene Laboratory at the Institute of Experimental Medicine, commented that studying the wolf remains could yield significant benefits. “We find that living bacteria can survive in animal fossils for millennia, serving as witnesses to ancient times. We hope the research results will enhance our understanding of ancient bacterial populations, their functions, and their potential applications in modern medicine and biotechnology,” Goncharov stated.
