Scientists found a mummified bear in the Siberia. The discovery was made in the year 2020 and, initially, scholars imagined it to be a new species, but according to the results, the animal underwent a mummification process at a young age.
Archaeological finds assess species of mummified bear on Russian island
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The bear was found by reindeer herders on Bolshoi Lyakhonvsky Island, which is located in the East Siberian Sea. The animal's body was intact in every respect: skin, fur, teeth, nose, claws, body fat and internal organs.
Scientists at the Lazarev Mammoth Museum Laboratory at North-Eastern Federal University (NEFU) in Yakutsk, were responsible for the analyzes and named the “Ethereal Bear”, in homage to the Bolshoi River Ethereal.
What was the species found?
After the first analysis, it was assumed that the animal was of the Ursus spelaeus species, already extinct. This ancient bear is related to both brown and polar bears. About 22,000 years ago, during the end of the Last Glacial Maximum, Spelaeus became completely extinct.
Contrary to the initial claim, the mummified animal was actually a brown bear approximately 3,460 years old.
With the results of the analysis, it was possible to identify that the body was that of a female, 1.6 m tall and weighing 78 kg. She had some spinal injuries, but the cause of her death is not defined. What is known is that she was approximately 2 to 3 years old.
Something very interesting is that the stomach remains of the bear were still intact, it was possible to identify remains of plants and birds. This fact proves the omnivorous behavior of brown bears. O brain of the animal was also withdrawn for future studies.
Where did the bear come from?
The researchers' main question is how the ethereal bear ended up on the island, as it is separated from the mainland by 50 kilometers. If the animal was present before the separation, other bodies should be found at the site, and so far nothing more has been discovered. This question will remain for future research.