The First Preserved Baby Wooly Rhino Ever Discovered Found In Siberia

Academy of Sciences Republic of Sakha

The first pictures of Sasha, a baby wolly rhino who were found in Siberia's Sakha Republic. Experts hope to be able to extract DNA from the wolly rhino which were given to them from the Academy of Scientists in Yakutsk, which is the capital of the Sakha Republic. Sasha was found on the bank of a stream that flows into the Semyulyakh River. Hunter and businessman, Alexander 'Sasha' Banderov and his friend had originally thought it was a reindeer before fully realizing their discovery.

Sasha the rhino moments after it was found in Yakutia. Picture: Alexander Banderov

Scientists estimate that Sasha was about 18 months old when she died. It's wool is very well preserved and also an ear, one eye, it's mouth and nostrils are all visible. The remnants of two horns are also visible.

Both Russian and foreign scientists are going to study the remains of the baby rhino. Before it's extinction around 10,000 years ago, the wooly rhino was a common sight around Europe and northern Asia during the Pleistocene era. The wooly rhino lived in Scotland and Spain, all the way to North Korea. They were tough enough to survive the last ice age, but were hunted by early humans which is directly connected to their extinction. Hunting along with the receding of the ice age and hyperdisease ultimately let to their demise.

Academy of Sciences Republic of Sakha