PICS: Scientists plan to clone extinct Siberian cave lion

Coming to a zoo near you.

Scientists have discovered two baby prehistoric big cats, their remains estimated to be some 12,000 years old, in a cave in Yakutia, Siberia. The cubs, which are believed to have been extinct for more than ten thousand years, were frozen in an icy tomb perfectly preserving their DNA. [caption id="attachment_46112" align="alignnone" width="720"] Via SB Times / Getty[/caption]   Named Panthera leo spelaea, the cave lion is now being studied by head of fauna studies department of the Yakutian Academy of Sciences, Dr Albert Protopopov - the man described the most likely human alive to bring back the woolly mammoth. In a press conference, Dr Protopopov was quoted by The Siberian Times as saying: "They are complete with all their body parts: fur, ears, soft tissue and even whiskers. Together with the Mammoth Museum, we took samples for cell research." According to Protopopov's team the species would most likely have lived off bison, young or injured mammoths, elk, bears and wild horses. At 1.27m tall when fully-grown, they were essentially something from Far Cry: Primal. Research indicates the cubs, nicknamed Uyan and Dina, were barely a week old at the time of their death. Next year the same team plans to return to the site where the cubs were found in an attempt to find their frozen mother. [caption id="attachment_46113" align="alignnone" width="720"] Via SB Times / Getty[/caption]  

South Korean scientist to clone the extinct Siberian cave lion https://t.co/nsbsl6RfUE via @DNews pic.twitter.com/9k584MGymR

— Mashable (@mashable) March 7, 2016