World's oldest domesticated dog breed has cohabited with humans for 1,000 years, new study shows — but their population is plummeting
Share this @internewscast.com

It gives new meaning to dog years.

For nearly 10,000 years, people in the Arctic regions have utilized different breeds of sled dogs. However, recent research identifies one breed as the longest continuously domesticated.

A study featured in the journal Science highlights that Qimmit have been maintained by Inuit societies in Greenland for nearly a thousand years, unlike other sled dog varieties which have been selectively bred out.

“These dogs have been carrying out the same duties alongside the same communities for 1,000 years or more,” Tatiana Feuerborn, the lead researcher and a paleogeneticist at the National Human Genome Research Institute part of the National Institutes of Health, shared with Popular Science. “This longstanding relationship distinguishes them from other Arctic and sled dog breeds.”

However, the population of the special animal has been steadily declining as a result of “environmental changes and cultural transitions,” according to the study.

There are even fears that Qimmit could become extinct.

In 2002, there were about 25,000 in Greenland, but that number had plummeted to just 13,000 in 2020.

The Science study delves into the genetic history of the Qimmeq.

Other dog breeds that descended from a common ancestor include the Siberian husky, Alaskan malamute, Samoyed and Canadian Inuit dog. Similarly, these canines adapted to the harsh Arctic climate, but none have remained with the same population like the Qimmeq.

The team of researchers studied 92 genomes, ranging from contemporary to ancient, to trace how far back the breed goes, and how its isolation in Greenland impacted its development, as opposed to other comparable Arctic dogs.

“We’re not the first people to say this… but this is some of the first quantifiable evidence that really lends credence to it,” she added, clarifying the findings.

Older DNA samples were taken from bones and fur embedded in preserved Inuit garments, which were borrowed from museums, while contemporary saliva swabs were graciously given to researchers by modern-day Qimmeq breeders in Greenland.

Despite their lupine looks, the Qimmeq is less closely linked to wolves than previously suggested, researchers also uncovered.

“Qimmeqwolf hybrids have been reported to form strong bonds with a single owner and often display aggression toward humans outside of their ‘family,’ killing dogs from outside their team,” the study reports. “This highly territorial behavior makes it difficult to integrate them with new owners and unfamiliar animals.”

While the study is certainly interesting food for thought for dog lovers across the world, it also provides insights into how to preserve the current Qimmit population,

In many areas of Greenland, once-expansive ice sheets have become slushy seas, and researchers have marked billions of tons of ice loss in recent years.

“Dogs have been so intrinsically tied to human history as the first domesticated animal. They have been at the formation of every human society,” Feuerborn said. “In Greenland in particular, these dogs have been there all along. Being able to preserve that cultural history alongside the genetic history is important. It has immense cultural value.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Illegal immigrant convicted of shooting at small-town officer in high-speed chase

Undocumented Immigrant Found Guilty of Firing at Rural Police Officer During High-Speed Pursuit

A small-town traffic stop turned into a deadly confrontation when an illegal…
Andre Agassi snaps at commentator over celebrity Wimbledon questions

Andre Agassi Responds Firmly to Commentator’s Celebrity Wimbledon Inquiries

Andre Agassi is at Wimbledon to talk tennis, not to fawn over…
Supreme Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson triggered by 'state of our democracy'

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Expresses Concern About the ‘State of Our Democracy’

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, known for sparking debate, is facing…
Shanna Gardner's onto jailhouse snitches, even murderers and human traffickers

Shanna Gardner Targets Informants in Jail, Including Killers and Human Traffickers

On May 23, Gardner’s legal team submitted a motion requesting a court…

Grandpa’s Last Seen Moments on Video: Wife Shares Concern Over His ‘Confused’ Departure

GAS station footage has revealed the last moments a doting grandfather was…
Native Hawaiian man could face longer prison sentence after conviction for hate crime against white man

Hawaiian Man May Receive Extended Sentence for Hate Crime Conviction Against White Man

A Native Hawaiian man who had been found guilty of a hate…
Geoengineering Whistleblower Shanahan Reveals Truth

Shanahan, the Geoengineering Whistleblower, Unveils the Truth

Nicole Shanahan, RFK Jr.’s running mate, shares whistleblower details exposing ongoing U.S.…
Illustration of the Poseidon underwater drone.

Putin’s Main Spokesperson Warns of “Radioactive Tsunami” with Nuclear Torpedoes as Trump Approves Arms for Ukraine

PUTIN’S chief propagandist has warned Russia could wipe out both coasts of…
Debris from a plane crash site with rescue workers.

Crash Investigators Attribute Fatal Error by Air India Pilots for Disaster, Killing 260 After Takeoff

PILOT error is suspected in the Air India crash which killed 260…

Eyewitness to Idaho Tragedy: Missteps, Misunderstandings, and the Unveiling of the Real Culprit

EDGING open the door to the student digs, Hunter Johnson felt something…
Judge orders Trump administration to halt indiscriminate immigration stops, arrests in California

Court Mandates Trump Administration to Cease Random Immigration Checks and Arrests in California

LOS ANGELES — A federal judge on Friday commanded the Trump administration…
Sex therapist of 45 years reveals why people cheat

45-Year Veteran Sex Therapist Explains Why People Cheat

People often believe cheating is solely caused by lust, a need for…