Russian reindeer herders on an Arctic archipelago have discovered a perfectly preserved Ice Age cave bear, the first find of its kind, offering a unique glimpse at the extinct species.
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The adult bear, believed to have lived between 22,000 and 39,500 years ago, was found on the Lyakhovsky Islands between the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea, Russia's North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk said in a statement.
"It is completely preserved, with all internal organs in place including even its nose. Previously, only skulls and bones were found," scientist Lena Grigorieva said in the statement.
The cave bear or Ursus spelaeus is a Eurasian prehistoric species or subspecies that became extinct about 15,000 years ago, the statement said.
"Recent years have seen major discoveries of mammoths, woolly rhinos, Ice Age foal, several puppies and cave lion cubs as the permafrost melts in Siberia," the university said.
Australian Associated Press