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A 57,000-year-old wolf pup perfectly preserved in the permafrost finally reveals its secrets after its discovery almost four years ago.
The gray wolf, known to locals as Zhùr, was discovered in the Yukon, Canada, near Dawson City, according to a study published in Current Biology. The 7-week-old dog is believed to have been in her den when she died, study lead author Julie Meachen said in a statement.
“We believe she was in her den and died instantly from the den collapse,” Meachen said. “Our data showed that she was not hungry and that she was about 7 weeks old when she died, so we feel a little better knowing that the poor little girl didn’t suffer for too long.
This 57,000-year-old mummified wolf pup has been unearthed – completely frozen in time. (Credit: SWNS)
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Researchers examined the little wolf through several different methods, including radiocarbon dating, DNA sampling, and oxygen isotope analysis to confirm the mammal’s death. The researchers also took x-rays of his teeth and bones to confirm his age.
Meachen added that the wolf puppy is “the most complete wolf mummy ever found,” noting that the only thing missing are his eyes.
The head, tail, paws, fur, and skin of the Ice Age creature were perfectly preserved in the permafrost. (Credit: SWNS)
“And the fact that she is so comprehensive has allowed us to do so many avenues of inquiry into her to fundamentally rebuild her life,” Meachen explained.
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The researchers were also able to analyze the puppy’s diet, which was influenced by where it lived.
“Normally when you think of wolves in the Ice Age, you think they eat bison or muskoxen or other large animals on earth,” Meachen explained. “One thing that surprised us was that she was eating aquatic resources, especially salmon.”
(Credit: Des Moines University)
The frozen wolf puppy is of added importance as it was first discovered in North America and not Russia or Siberia, where others have been found, including one unearthed in June 2019.
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“We were asked why she was the only wolf found in the den, and what happened to her mother or siblings,” Meachen continued. “It could be that she was a unique puppy. Or the other wolves weren’t in the den during the collapse. Unfortunately, we’ll never know.”
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