Hippopotamuses inhabited Europe until 30,000 years ago: why did they flee from here? 0 11

Previously, scientists believed that these animals disappeared from the continent around 115,000 years ago — with the onset of the last ice age. However, new studies of remains found in the Upper Rhine Graben area in Germany showed that hippos lived there until 47,000–31,000 years ago.

Radiocarbon dating of nineteen bones confirmed the presence of animals in Central Europe during the Middle Weichselian — a relatively warm climatic phase when woolly mammoths and rhinoceroses lived nearby. Analysis of ancient DNA revealed that these "river horses" belonged to the same species as modern African hippos but had less genetic diversity. This indicates that their population was isolated and small.

The discovery challenges previous notions about the timing of hippo extinction in Europe and highlights the diversity of climatic conditions during the ice age. Scientists urge a closer examination of other warm-loving species from that time to gain a deeper understanding of changes in ancient ecosystems.