A Tale From the Permafrost

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Siberia

22,000 years ago

Late Pleistocene

The sun begins to rise over Siberia's snowcapped mountains, the warm rays bouncing off the freezing snow. A cold wind from the north sweeps through the vast mammoth steppe.

A lone Coelodonta antiquitatis peacefully feeds on some grass, its thick coat of reddish-brown fur protecting it from the chilly breeze. Woolly Rhinos grow to be 3 to 3.8 meters long and 2 meters tall. Despite their impressive size, they are still armed with 2 massive horns for defense, with the first one being able to reach a length of 1.4 meters. However, the Woolly Rhino's protrusion isn't just used for defense. During mating season, males use their horns to spar with each other, while in the winter months, the mass of keratin is utilized as a shovel to sweep aside snow and uncover grass.

 During mating season, males use their horns to spar with each other, while in the winter months, the mass of keratin is utilized as a shovel to sweep aside snow and uncover grass

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Just like its southern relatives, Coelodonta's eye sight is very poor. Instead it relies on its powerful sense of smell and hearing to detect possible danger.

The Woolly Rhino suddenly jerks its head up. It has picked up the smell of something, something big. Instinctively the Rhinocerotidae takes up a defensive stance.

A shrill trumpeting sound echoes across the land. Marching onto the scene is a herd of Mammuthus primogenius. Leading them is Snow-tusk, the matriarch of the herd.

 Leading them is Snow-tusk, the matriarch of the herd

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