Blue Babe

Blue Babe is the name of a 35,000 year old ice mummy of a male steppe bison (Bison priscus ), whose preserved in the ice body was found in 1979 near Fairbanks, Alaska (USA). The name comes from the blue coloration of the skin caused by a chemical reaction with the air during the recovery of the carcass.

The protruding from the mud hooves of Blue Babe were discovered by prospektierenden Gold scrubbers. The recovery of the carcass was carried out by paleontologists.

Blue Babe was at the time of his death in the North American mammoth steppe about eight or nine years old and was in excellent physical condition. After the reconstructions made ​​the bison two American lion (Panthera leo atrox ) fell victim that were prevalent at that time in Alaska. After the death of the lions ate mainly meat from the back and torso; However, after a frost onset of the predators could not tear off any further cuts of meat from the body. This is also indicated a found in the body of bison tooth fragment of a lion. The fixed frozen body was apparently buried in the spring of mud and loess. He then completely mummified in mud.

A reconstruction of the prehistoric bison is now in the Museum of the University of Alaska.