Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

The remains of a polar bear have been found in the Scottish Highlands, dating back to only around 18,000 years ago when ice sheets covered the entire country in an ice age. It's amazing to think how short amount of time we have really been around, 18000 years ago is nothing compared to the lifespan of the earth but we only have records of civilisation going back a few thousand (although humans have been around a lot longer than that).

Scientists are going to analyse the skull to see how closely related to modern polar bears it is. Quite an exciting discovery!

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment...93145.html

Very exciting indeed, just imagine walking in the flow country and seeing Polar bears.

As you say, 18000 years ago isn't that long ago compared to the Earth's age. Incredible how things change!

That's exactly what I thought when I read the story, it would be incredible.
Although if it were still that cold here, perhaps we wouldn't be living like we are today!

Its amazing how the world has changed so much, so many different creatures that used to live on different parts of the earth at different times in the earths history. I'd love to go back in time just to see the differences between then and now. Nature really is amazing.

I read the title of this thread wrong! I read 'remains' as in 'still hanging around' and not the way it was meant!!

:D Now that would be incredible CB!

I like to try and imagine what the UK would have been like 18000 years ago. Completely different for sure, unrecognisable I would think.