A perfectly preserved Ice Age cave bear has been found in Russia -- even its nose is intact

CNN ^ | 9/14/2020 | Anna Chernova and Lianne Kolirin, CNN

[packrat35]

The perfectly preserved remains of an Ice Age cave bear have been discovered in the Russian Arctic -- the first example of the species ever to be found with soft tissues intact.

The astonishing find was made by reindeer herders on the Lyakhovsky Islands, which are part of the New Siberian islands archipelago in Russia's Far North.

The bear could be as much as 39,500 years old. Prior to this, only the bones of cave bears had been unearthed, but this specimen even had its nose intact, according to a team of scientists from the North-Eastern Federal University (NEFU) in Yakutsk, Siberia. The discovery is of "world importance," a leading Russian expert on extinct Ice Age species said.

In a statement released by the university, scientist Lena Grigorieva said: "Today this is the first and only find of its kind -- a whole bear carcass with soft tissues. It is completely preserved, with all internal organs in place including even its nose. "Previously, only skulls and bones were found. This find is of great importance for the whole world."

[PIF]

I recall the Cave Bear was THE most powerful bear.

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The Short Faced bear would give it a run for the money, standing 14 foot on hindquarters

[Daffynition]

Cheers! Here's to bear noses!

Somewhere we have video of a black bear sniffing the trail cam. :)