A PAIR of cave lion cubs that died up to 44,000 years ago were found perfectly preserved in the Siberian permafrost.
One starved to death and the other may have been crushed by falling rocks, both having possibly been abandoned by their mothers.
This image shows Sparta, a female cave lion found in the Siberian permafrostCredit: The Siberian Times
Another older cub named Boris was also found just 10 metres awayCredit: The Siberian Times
When the cubs were dug up in 2018, it was believed that they were male siblings who had died around 44,000 years ago.
But it turns out that the youngest cub was actually female, and died roughly 26,000 years ago, as revealed by the Siberian Times.
She has been renamed from Spartak to Sparta after further research revealed the truth about her origins.
It emerged that she died of hunger, likely after being abandoned by her mother.
Sparta is believed to have died 26,000 years agoCredit: The Siberian Times
She starved to death, possibly after being abandoned by her motherCredit: The Siberian Times
The well-preserved lion cub was once thought to be male, but research proved she was a female unrelated to BorisCredit: The Siberian Times
Alternatively, the cub’s mum may have simply failed to find food, or had been 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed herself.
“She starved to death,” said Dr Albert Protopopov, an expert on frozen remains who worked on the remains.
“We wondered why she looked so skinny when she was found, and then tomography of her internal organs showed there was no fat.
“It was the most extreme stage of starvation.”
Sparta was found frozen 10 metres away another larger cave lion cub named Boris.
Boris died roughly 44,000 years ago, and was aged just two or three weeks when he died.
He may also have been left by his mother inside a cave, and was possibly 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed by collapsing cave rock.
“We found visible traces of internal injuries, which we believe could have been caused by rock falling on him,” said Protopopov.
Another cave lion cub named Boris was foundCredit: The Siberian Times
Examinations of his body suggest he was 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed by an impact – possibly falling cave rocksCredit: The Siberian Times
Scientists hope that they may be able to revive cave lions as a species using these cubsCredit: The Siberian Times
