Frozen for nearly 60,000 years, mummified wolf puppy reveals its secrets

[Prehistory Resurrection]

Frozen for nearly 60,000 years, mummified wolf puppy reveals its secrets
By Lucy HicksDec. 21, 2020 , 1:40 PM

In 2016, a gold miner serendipitously discovered the mummified remains of a 57,000-year-old female wolf pup in Canada's Yukon territory frozen in permafrost. Now, scientists are piecing together how the youngster lived, National Geographic reports. From examining its teeth as well as body x-rays, the scientists determined the pup was between 6 and 7 weeks old. Once weaned from her mother, she mostly ate fish and other aquatic prey from nearby rivers and streams, the scientists report today in Current Biology. The pup likely died in a den collapse, killing her instantly and preserving her remains for tens of thousands of years.

Science Mag.org