Paleontology: The carcass of a woolly rhinoceros from the Ice Age was excavated from the Siberian permafrost

The frozen carcass of a young woolly rhinoceros from the Ice Age – whose hazel-colored fur is still intact – was recovered from the permafrost of Siberia.

The remains, 80 percent intact and containing evidence of the animal’s last meal, were excavated in August in the Abyysky district of the Sakha Republic.

They were found by Alexei Savvin from the region – and include various internal organs and structures, including teeth, part of the intestine, and a lump of fat.

Experts believe the remains are most likely around 34,000 years old – although the exact age has yet to be confirmed by radiocarbon dating.

The find was made near the point where the only known specimen of woolly rhinoceros – called Sasha – was unearthed in 2014.

Last year, the remains of two extinct cave lion cubs – ‘Boris’ and ‘Sparta’ – were found in the same district near a tributary of the remote Tirekhtyakh River.

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The frozen carcass of a young woolly rhinoceros from the Ice Age, whose hazel-colored fur is still intact, was recovered from the permafrost of Siberia

The frozen carcass was found by Alexei Savvin – and it includes various internal organs and structures, including teeth, part of the intestine, and a lump of fat

The researchers also discovered a horn (pictured) near the remains of the young Pleistocene creature, the gender of which has not yet been determined

“According to preliminary estimates, the rhinoceros is three or four years old and a very young individual,” said paleontologist Albert Protopopov of the Academy of Sciences of the Sakha Republic.

‘It probably drowned in the river. The carcass is very well preserved, ”he added.

“Among other things, part of the internal organs is preserved, which will make it possible in the future to examine more closely how the species ate and lived.”

The researchers also discovered a horn near the remains of the young Pleistocene creature, the gender of which has not yet been determined.

Sasha – the baby woolly rhinoceros unearthed from the same area six years ago – has been dated about 34,000 years ago, but the new find could be between 20,000 and 50,000 years old, the researchers said. It is believed that it died in the summer.

“The Abyisky rhinoceros can already be called the only one of its kind in the world,” said Dr. Protopopov.

“In the past, not even the bones of people of this age were found, let alone the animal carcasses that were preserved.”

“Usually these were either boys or adults.”

The new specimen is currently being kept near where it was found until it is transported to the capital of the republic, Yakutsk, when the weather is fine.

Experts believe the remains pictured are most likely around 34,000 years old – although the exact age has yet to be confirmed by radiocarbon dating

The new specimen is currently being kept near where it was found until it is transported to the capital of the republic, Yakutsk, when the weather is fine. Pictured one of the rhinoceros teeth

“According to preliminary estimates, the rhinoceros is three or four years old and a very young individual,” said paleontologist Albert Protopopov of the Academy of Sciences of the Sakha Republic. ‘It probably drowned in the river. The carcass is very well preserved, ”he added

Woolly rhinos once roamed today’s Europe and Russia – and were even present in the south of England. Pictured the carcass before the excavation

Sasha – who was seven months old when she died – had strawberry-blonde curls, a color that contrasts with the slate-gray rhinos of Africa.

In addition, the size of baby Sasha – whose carcass bears the stumps of two horns – shows that woolly rhinos were much larger than their modern counterparts.

Woolly rhinos once roamed today’s Europe and Russia – and were even present in the south of England.

The find was made near the point where the only known specimen of woolly rhinoceros – called Sasha – was unearthed in 2014. In the picture, Sasha was cleaned up and exhibited

The Sasha pictured – the baby woolly rhinoceros unearthed from the same area six years ago – was dated about 34,000 years ago, but the new find could be between 20,000 and 50,000 years old, the researchers said

Sasha – who was seven months old when she died – had strawberry-blonde curls, a color that contrasts with the slate-gray rhinos of Africa. In addition, the size of baby Sasha – whose carcass bears the stumps of two horns – shows that woolly rhinos were much larger than their modern counterparts