UNSPECIFIED - AUGUST 14:  Illustration of Woolly Rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis)  (Photo by De Agostini via Getty Images/De Agostini via Getty Images)

89165080

UNSPECIFIED - AUGUST 14: Illustration of Woolly Rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) (Photo by De Agostini via Getty Images/De Agostini via Getty Images)

Photo by: DE AGOSTINI PICTURE LIBRARY

DE AGOSTINI PICTURE LIBRARY

A Woolly Rhino was the Last Meal of a Prehistoric Puppy

By: Leah Weber

Russian Scientists are hypothesizing that the last living Woolly Rhino was eaten as the last meal of a puppy!

August 18, 2020

In a mysterious story, Russian scientists had spent nearly 10 years studying the very well preserved remains of a prehistoric puppy of a dog or wolf. Once they got to the stomach contents, they found a rare surprise. What they had assumed was the commonly-found remnants of the puppy's last meal of a cave lion, actually turned out to be more surprising. After some DNA sequencing, it was determined that the last meal was likely one of the sole surviving woolly rhinos in existence.

This timeline was determined because the puppy's remains are confirmed at 14,000 years old, and the woolly rhinocerous went extinct around the same time. A professor of evolutionary genetics, Love Dalen, spoke to CNN, "We have a reference database and mitochondrial DNA from all mammals, so we checked the sequence data against that and the results that came back -- it was an almost perfect match for woolly rhinoceros."

There is a lot of speculation on what went down on those final days of both the woolly rhinocerous and the wolf or dog puppy. But we can confirm that it is known that the death of the puppy likely occurred soon after that of the rhino.

Next Up

Take a Safari at Home

The San Diego Zoo is streaming some of their awesome animals-- LIVE!

New Reef Discovery in Australia is a Once in a Century Find

Scientists have studied this species-rich ecosystem for more than 100 years, so the discovery of a towering 1,600 foot coral reef is one of the great finds of the century.

Clear Skies During Lockdown is a Pandemic Upside

With almost all of the world under lockdown, cars are off the roads and the smog is disappearing in some of the planet’s most polluted atmospheres.

New High Seas Treaty is a Game-Changer for Oceans

Nations are coming together to negotiate the world’s first ever high seas conservation treaty, which is expected to be signed later this year.

Climate Week 2021 Shines a Light on the Climate Crisis

Every September since 2009, Climate Week coincides with the UN General Assembly in New York City. Action is required to halt and attempt to reverse the rapid and catastrophic deterioration of the world's climate. The planet is in crisis and this year The Explorers Club is spotlighting experts in the field to bring awareness to how we can create the change we need to improve the future of the planet.

Cicadas: An Early Invasion

Match point, 2020. Early cicadas are here to ruin your quiet outdoor moments.

First Dog in the US Tests Positive for Coronavirus

A pug in North Carolina has tested positive for COVID-19, after the virus worked its way through almost his whole family.

Experts Say Plan Now for Pet Separation Anxiety

For many people, the silver lining of the pandemic is the time we've been able to spend with our furry friends. But, as places begin to open up, the separation will be hard. Here are a few ways to get your pet ready for the time when you go back to work.

Locust Swarms Plague India

With New Delhi, India on high alert after a nearby swarm of locusts, this terrifying natural phenomenon is enabled by ever-changing climate conditions and unique species behaviors.

Meet Brood X: Billions of Cicadas Emerging Soon Within Eastern U.S.

Do you hear it? If you live in the Eastern U.S., it's likely the noisy entrance of the cicadas from Brood X as they emerge for the first time in 17 years.