A perfectly-preserved prehistoric wolf has been discovered in Russia.
The creature, whose long fur and impressively sharp fangs are still intact, has been encased in permafrost for 40,000 years and was miraculously unearthed still snarling in the Abyisky district, in Yakutia.
The fully-grown severed head, which is measured to be 16 inches in length, was reportedly from a wolf that was aged to have been between two and four years old when it died. Siberian Times report, The sensational find is believed to be the world’s first full-sized Pleistocene wolf, and due to the high quality of preservation, provides new insight into the extinct species. Large teeth, the hair, ears, and bones are all well preserved, and even the brain of the animal is in good condition.”
The shocking discovering was made by locals near the Tirekhtyakh river in the Yakutia region. The locals who were in search for mammoth tasks which often fetch a pretty penny; found the large severed head instead. They did not keep it and opted to hand it over to authorities.
Head of mammoth fauna studies at the Yakutia Academy, Albert Protopopov told The Daily Telegraph: “We want to answer the question of whether these wolves disappeared or turned into modern wolves, how much they are related to modern wolves.”
The director of the department, Albert Protopopov, also told CNN: “The number of discoveries is growing because of the thaw of the permafrost.”
The newly-discovered prehistoric severed head of the wolf joins an exhibition in Toyko where it will be seen next to the remains of a cave lion cub believed to be 50,000 years old.
