Japan’s lost ‘tigers’ were actually lions study

Published: 17 February 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A groundbreaking scientific study has upended long-held assumptions about ancient wildlife in Japan, revealing that the large “tiger” fossils unearthed across the archipelago were not tigers at all — but belonged to a now-extinct species of cave lion that once roamed the region tens of thousands of years ago. The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, challenge decades of belief about Japan’s prehistoric ecosystem and shed new light on migrations of large predators during the Late Pleistocene epoch.

For generations, palaeontologists and archaeologists had interpreted large feline fossil remains found from northern Aomori to southwestern Oita Prefecture as belonging to ancient tiger species, largely because of their size and anatomical features. These interpretations also fit with historical models suggesting that tigers once inhabited parts of East Asia and could have reached Japan during glacial periods when sea levels were lower.

However, the new study used advanced DNA sequencing and protein analysis to identify the true origins of these fossils. By extracting and comparing mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from subfossil specimens, researchers found that the genetic makeup of the bones matched that of Panthera spelaea — the cave lion — rather than any tiger species. Researchers also applied radiocarbon dating techniques, which indicated that these lions were present in Japan between roughly 72,700 and 37,500 years ago.

Cave lions are an extinct species that once ranged across northern Eurasia, from Siberia to parts of what is now Europe. They diverged from African lion populations long before spreading across the continent. While these lions disappeared elsewhere, the study suggests that Japan’s geographical isolation, interspersed with brief land connections during glacial periods, allowed relict populations to persist there for thousands of years. Some cave lion remains may date back more than 10,000 years after the species vanished elsewhere, indicating a uniquely extended presence in the Japanese archipelago.

The discovery not only corrects the scientific record but also opens up fresh questions about past ecosystems, predator-prey dynamics and how early humans interacted with their environment. Humans are believed to have arrived in Japan around 40,000 to 35,000 years ago, overlapping with the tenure of these apex predators in the region. How early human populations coexisted with — and responded to — such large carnivores remains an intriguing possibility for future research.

Experts say this research underscores the importance of molecular techniques in palaeontology. Traditional fossil analysis, based primarily on physical characteristics, can misattribute remains when species have similar body structures. Genetic evidence, by contrast, provides clearer insights into evolutionary relationships and species identity — a tool that is revolutionising how scientists interpret the prehistoric past.

Understanding East Asia’s palaeobiology also has broader implications for the study of biodiversity and extinction. The fact that cave lions survived longer in isolated regions like Japan highlights how geography and climate shaped ancient animal ranges. Such insights help scientists model how modern species might respond to environmental changes today.

Today, neither lions nor tigers exist in Japan’s wild landscapes. The only native wild feline remaining is the critically endangered Iriomote cat, a small wildcat found exclusively on Iriomote Island, which itself faces intense conservation challenges.

The revelation that Japan’s prehistoric “tigers” were in fact cave lions not only rewrites a chapter of Japan’s natural history but also evokes a vivid picture of an ancient world where majestic big cats once prowled now-quiet forests and plains.

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