A pair of canines discovered in Siberian permafrost were believed to be 14,000-year-old 'puppies', but genetic testing revealed they were actually wolf sisters who died after consuming a last meal of woolly rhino. Anne Kathrine Runge, an archaeologist at the University of York, led the research team that made this discovery.

The mummified wolf littermates were found near Tumat in northern Siberia and were dated to have died between 14,100 and 15,000 years ago. Along with the wolves, woolly mammoth bones were also discovered, hinting at early human interactions with these animals.

Dogs and wolves share a genetic history but diverged around 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. The Tumat wolf sisters were initially thought to be among the oldest domesticated dogs, but DNA testing confirmed they belonged to an extinct wolf population.

In a recent study, researchers examined the gut contents and bone chemistry of the wolf sisters to uncover more details about their lives. The cubs, identified as sisters, were found to have been eating solid food including woolly rhino meat and a small bird called a wagtail. They were still nursing from their mother at the time of their death.

There is no evidence linking the wolf sisters directly to human activities, despite sharing the landscape with ancient humans. The cause of their death remains unknown, with researchers speculating that they may have perished in an underground den collapse.

Further studies on the Tumat wolf sisters could provide more insights into ancient wolves and their evolutionary path, according to Nathan Wales, an ancient-DNA specialist at the University of York.