This dog’s body has been lying in the trunk of an oak tree for 60 years but has not decomposed, it all has a reason.
Upon discovering the hunting dog trapped in the trunk of an oak tree, the researchers were extremely surprised that the hunting dog’s body remained intact for 60 years without decomposing at all.
When lumberjacks at a company cut the top of a chestnut oak tree to load it onto a transport truck, they suddenly saw a hunting dog peering out at them from a hollow space in the log. Experts believe that this hunting dog got stuck in 1960 when he jumped through a tree hole while chasing some animal. Because the space was quite narrow and the hole was high, the dog could not escape. The poor dog became a “petrified mummy” after failing in his struggle to find a way out of a tree like a random trap 60 years ago.
But the special thing here is that the dog’s body was extremely well preserved – petrified for nearly 60 years without any Egyptian mummification techniques. So what is the cause?
According to anthropologist at the University of West Florida – Kristina Killgrove, normally when an individual dies, microbial organizations in the intestines will grow, multiply and take over the body, causing the process of decay. The dead body will now swell, creating conditions for other creatures to appear to “festival” the corpse.
But this is not what happened to this hound in the oak tree. The key problem lies in its “coffin” itself.
The reason given to explain this mystery is that the oak tree contains astringent substances, which are used to tan animal skins and prevent decomposition. According to scientific researchers, astringent is a natural dehydrating agent, which absorbs moisture and dries the surrounding environment. And environments with low humidity will prevent microbial activity, thereby resisting the decomposition process.
This has helped keep the dog’s body from being attacked by microorganisms. At the same time, the position and shape of the oak tree, with air blowing upward, also helped preserve the body of this poor dog.
And instead of crushing the log, the workers decided to donate it to the Southern Forest World museum. The dog was named Stuckie and has been the center of attention ever since. Today, visitors can watch the dog through the glass as it leans out to find freedom.