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Ancient Wolf Pup's Last Meal Offers Insight into Woolly Rhino Extinction

KVIA•Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 3:35 PM•CNN Newsource

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A remarkable discovery from 14,000 years ago has revealed the contents of a prehistoric wolf pup's stomach, which included DNA from a woolly rhinoceros. This finding, published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution, marks the first complete genome sequencing of an animal found in another animal's stomach. Researchers believe that the woolly rhino, which adapted to cold climates, went extinct due to rapid climate change rather than human hunting. The study highlights the importance of permafrost in preserving ancient DNA and provides valuable insights into the genetic stability of the woolly rhino population before its extinction.

Key Details: • Research published on the wolf pup's stomach contents in Genome Biology and Evolution. • DNA sequencing reveals the woolly rhino species Coelodonta antiquitatis. • Study suggests climate change, not human hunting, led to the woolly rhino's extinction. • The wolf pups were found in permafrost in Siberia, with one discovered in 2011 and the other in 2015.

archaeology climate-change extinction ancient-dna woolly-rhino

People & Organizations

Camilo Chacón-DuqueLove DalénNathan WalesSiberian steppeTumatUppsala UniversityCentre for PalaeogeneticsUniversity of York

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