Puppy made in a laboratory meets its natural mother for the first time after it was bred using a small fragment of her ear

  • Laika puppy Kerechene was born three months ago in Seoul, South Korea
  • Photos show her meeting her mother Suutuk in north eastern Siberia
  • Suutuk didn't know that the pup existed but the pair quickly hit it off
  • It's hoped the cloning technology can help save the endangered Laika species 

This is the moment a laboratory-made puppy comes face to face for the first time with its natural mother in Siberia.

The cloned Laika dog was bred using a small fragment of its mum's ear by South Korean scientists who are also working on bringing the extinct woolly mammoth back from the dead.

Puppy Kerechene was born three months ago in Seoul, and the picture shows her meeting her mother Suutuk - who knew nothing of her existence and had no chance to suckle her baby - on a farm in Yakutia, the coldest region in Russia.

Mummy? Puppy Kerechene was initially a bit wary when she met her surrogate mother 

Mummy? Puppy Kerechene was initially a bit wary when she met her surrogate mother 

But mother Suutuk was quickly straining at the leash to meet her 'puppy' 

But mother Suutuk was quickly straining at the leash to meet her 'puppy' 

Belekh (left) and Kerechene (right) were both cloned by South Korea's Sooam Biotech Research Foundation

Belekh (left) and Kerechene (right) were both cloned by South Korea's Sooam Biotech Research Foundation

The young dog's name mean's 'beautiful' in the local Yakut language.

One photograph shows mother and daughter eyeing each other somewhat warily, but Suutuk was soon straining at leash to get closer to her offspring.

The pair rapidly hit it off and were soon playing together happily, reported The Siberian Times.

'I can't really believe that it [the puppy] is a clone. If you look at the original, you can see that they both look alike,' said owner Dmitry, seen in the picture holding Kerechene.

Kerechene (left) was bred using a small fragment of her mother's ear

Kerechene (left) was bred using a small fragment of her mother's ear

The scientists are also working on using the same cloning technology to bring back extinct animals like the woolly mammouth  

The scientists are also working on using the same cloning technology to bring back extinct animals like the woolly mammouth  

Scientists also cloned a three-month-old male called Belekh, which means 'present'.

The aim is to save the Laika sledge-pulling species which is under threat from cross breeding, say experts.

The puppies, cloned by South Korea's Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, arrived in Yakutsk, the capital of Siberia's Yakutia Republic, in recent days.

The research was led by Dr. Hwang Woo Suk and his team, which are seeking to clone extinct Siberian animals such as the woolly mammoth.

Kerechene was sent in the last few days from South Korea to Yakutsk in northern Siberia 

Kerechene was sent in the last few days from South Korea to Yakutsk in northern Siberia 

A file photo of Sooam Biotech Research Foundation. Scientists say the puppies' development will be studied for genetic research 

A file photo of Sooam Biotech Research Foundation. Scientists say the puppies' development will be studied for genetic research 

He is using preserved remnants of the hairy beasts preserved for thousands of years in the permafrost.

Scientists from North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk say the puppies' behaviour 'corresponds to the norms of development, and the specialists note that they have a high ability to learn and communicate'.

The puppies' development will be studied for genetic research. 

A file photo showing the cloning procedure in South Korea.  The cloning foundation offers the procedure for private citizens who want to prolong their dog's lifespan

A file photo showing the cloning procedure in South Korea.  The cloning foundation offers the procedure for private citizens who want to prolong their dog's lifespan

Pictured: Dr Hwang Woo Suk, who leads the research into the cloning procedure 

Pictured: Dr Hwang Woo Suk, who leads the research into the cloning procedure 

Owner Dimitri said he couldn't believe Kerechene was a clone 

Owner Dimitri said he couldn't believe Kerechene was a clone