Autopsy of 44,000-year-old WOLF frozen solid with its last meal still in its stomach could unearth ancient super-viruses
SCIENTISTS have conducted an autopsy of an ancient wolf that was found frozen solid after 44,000 years with its last meal still in its stomach.
The snarling Ice Age beast was perfectly preserved in the Siberian permafrost and could unearth prehistoric super-viruses.
Scientists aim to detect and study ancient viruses and microbiota as well as the animal’s diet as its last meal still sits in its stomach.
Since the stomach bacteria has remained frozen and untouched for thousands of years it now has the potential to unleash new disease.
Samples of the mummified creature were also taken to compare it with modern day predators.
It is the oldest known wolf to undergo such an autopsy.
Locals made the terrifying discovery in 2021 at a dept of roughly 130ft in Russia’s coldest region, Yakutia.
It was then transferred to the Mammoth Museum Laboratory of the Northeast Federal University in Yakutsk.
Dr Albert Protopopov, head of the Mammoth Fauna Study Department of the Yakutia Academy of Sciences, said: “Its stomach has remained isolated, without contamination.
“As a result of the dissection, we hope to get an instantaneous cross-section of the biota of the ancient Pleistocene period.
“It was an active and large predator, and we have the opportunity to find out what it ate.
“Additionally, its stomach contains the remains of what its prey consumed.”
Dr Maxim Cheprasov, head of the Mammoth Museum Laboratory, said: “We extracted a premolar – a tooth – to determine the biological age of the find.
“However, based on the wear of the teeth and the development of the sagittal crest, we can already say that this is an adult male.”
Despite fears of the mysterious wolf meal unleashing deadly diseases, Professor Artemy Goncharov from the Institute of Experimental Medicine said the investigation could have modern-day benefits.
He said: “We see that live bacteria can survive in the finds of fossil animals for millennia, serving as witnesses to those ancient times,
“We hope for good results that will allow us to further understand what ancient microbial communities were like, what function they performed, and how dangerous pathogenic bacteria were represented in their structure.
“It is possible that microorganisms will be found that can be applied in medicine and biotechnology as promising producers of biologically active substances.
“Therefore, this research has a special influence on the future.”
Previous severed wolf head found in same region
INCREDIBLE photos show the severed head of a 40,000-year-old Ice Age wolf found in 2019.
The predator still had its brain intact when it was found frozen in Siberia.
Scientists described the remains as a “unique discovery of the first-ever remains of a fully grown Pleistocene wolf with its tissue preserved”.
The head – believed to be a trophy of an ancient hunter – was found in permafrost by the Tirekhtyakh River by local man Pavel Efimov.
His astonishing discovery was revealed at a Tokyo exhibition of remains of frozen beasts, including woolly mammoths.
The wolf, with a thick “mammoth-like” coat and impressive fangs, seems to have been larger than today’s Siberian wolves.
Russian scientist Dr Albert Protopopov said: “This is a unique discovery of the first-ever remains of a fully grown Pleistocene wolf with its tissue preserved.
“We will be comparing it to modern-day wolves to understand how the species has evolved and to reconstruct its appearance.”
The head is almost 16 inches long, around half the full length of a modern wolf in Siberia.
It was dated as older than 40,000 years by Japanese scientists.
Experts at the Swedish Museum of Natural History will examine the Pleistocene predator’s DNA, reports The Siberian Times.
The wolf is displayed alongside an Ice Age cave lion cub named Spartak.
Naoki Suzuki, professor of palaeontology and medicine with the Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo, said: “Their muscles, organs and brains are in good condition.
“We want to assess their physical capabilities and ecology by comparing them with the lions and wolves of today.”