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Bear from Ice Age found ‘completely preserved’ in Russian Arctic

The immaculately preserved remains of an Ice Age-era bear have been unearthed by reindeer herders in the Russian Arctic, researchers have said.
The bear was revealed by the melting permafrost on the Lyakhovsky Islands in north-eastern Russia.
With its teeth and nose intact, the bear is thought to be a species of brown bear that lived 22,000 to 39,500 years ago.
It will be studied at the North-Eastern Federal University (NEFU) in the city of Yakutsk.
A preserved bear found in SiberiaIMAGE COPYRIGHTNORTH-EASTERN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY
image captionThe animal is believed to be an ancient brown bear
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Scientists at the university, known for its research into woolly mammoths and other prehistoric species, suggested the discovery was unprecedented.
Dr Lena Grigorieva, a palaeontology researcher at the university, said the bear was “the first and only find of its kind” to be recovered in once piece with “soft tissue”.
“It is completely preserved, with all internal organs in place, even including its nose,” Dr Grigorieva said.
“Previously, only skulls and bones were found. This find is of great importance for the whole world.”
A preserved bear found in SiberiaIMAGE COPYRIGHTNORTH-EASTERN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY
image captionAnalysis is being done to determine the age of the bear
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Dr Grigorieva told the BBC the animal is believed to be an ancient relative of the brown bear, a large species found across Eurasia and North America today.
Other Russian scientists will be invited to join the study, with more details to be announced soon, the NEFU said in a news release on Monday.
“It is necessary to carry out radiocarbon analysis to determine the precise age of the bear,” the university quoted Maxim Cheprasov of the Mammoth Museum laboratory as saying.
The bear carcass was found by reindeer herders on Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island, the largest of the Lyakhovsky Islands, which are part of the New Siberian Islands archipelago that lies between the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea.
A preserved bear found in SiberiaIMAGE COPYRIGHTNORTH-EASTERN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY
image captionThe bear was found by reindeer herders in Siberia’s melting permafrost
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Separately, the preserved carcass of a bear cub was found in Russia’s far-eastern region of Yakutia, also known as the Sakha Republic. DNA testing will be carried out.
Recent years have seen major discoveries of mammoths, woolly rhinos, foal, several puppies and cave-lion cubs as the permafrost melts across vast areas in the Russian region of Siberia.
Last year, an 18,000-year-old puppy was found perfectly preserved with teeth and fur in the permafrost of Siberia.

All images subject to copyright
Source: BBC.COM

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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