Incredibly preserved cave lions found in Siberia after 12,000 years

Two frozen lion cubs at least 12,000 years old were found earlier this summer in the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic of Siberia, famed for many other striking discoveries of ice age animals.

These carcasses have been so well preserved, that some reports suggest that the meat is often fresh enough to eat, and can even contain liquid blood. In another stunning find, The Siberian Times reports the “sensational” discovery of two almost perfectly preserved cave lion cubs.

When Yuka was discovered, scientists quickly suggested that the animal might be a candidate for cloning, given that its eyes, blood, and certain organs were all found intact. However, this is an extremely distant possibility. Even when animals have been perfectly frozen their cells are irreparably damaged over time.

The species the cubs belong to went extinct at the very end of the Pleistocene Era around 12,000 years ago, the end of which corresponds with the close of the last ice age. (Photo/CRI)