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Portugal's ancient giant bears shrank over thousands of years and humans may be to blame
About 22,000 years ago, a giant brown bear lumbered across what is now Portugal. The creature weighed around 385 kg (about 850 pounds), making it one of the largest of its kind ever found, dwarfing even the largest brown bears today.
AI Summary
The study of ancient giant bears in Portugal has revealed a significant shift in the species' size over thousands of years. These massive creatures, which once roamed the region, have been found to have shrunk in size, with one specimen weighing around 385 kg. This is notable, as it is larger than the largest brown bears found today. The implications of this discovery are not yet clear, but it suggests that human activity may have played a role in the decline of these massive bears.
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