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Pets or predators bagged in wolf hunt?
By Dong Zhen |
April 6, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE difference between wolves and Siberian huskies has apparently eluded Shandong Province police who shot dead two "man-eating wolves" and caged a third. DNA results were awaited to determine if the animals are predators or pets.
In the latest turn in the case, police announced over the weekend that second "wolf" shot dead on March 26 was in fact a Siberian husky, based on DNA test results. The body was being returned to its owner. Of all three animals, it was most obviously a classic husky, with blue eyes and distinctive black and white markings.
Police and forestry officials - after first proudly proclaiming they had bagged "killer wolves" and "man eaters" in a huge lupine dragnet - have been silent since there was a public uproar and claims that they got the wrong beasts.
Animal experts, animal lovers and even police in Jiangsu Province said they got it wrong and described the difference between wolf and Siberian husky.
Police said they had to shoot with live bullets because the public was terrified after two villagers had reportedly been killed by "wolves" on March 14 near Tengzhou City. Several other people were injured by animals in the same area, some seriously. Police had no tranquilizer darts.
Results were not yet reported for the first "wolf" shot dead on March 19 and kept in a freezer, and the "wolf" captured and put in a zoo on March 23. There was no immediate explanation for why DNA results were not available for the animals killed and captured earlier.
Animal lovers and experts are outraged and say that in all three cases the cops got Siberian huskies, two of them pets, not wild wolves.
One man says his 5-year-old Siberian husky, Lady, is caged in the Tengzhou City Zoo and authorities won't release her; DNA is not yet available. Lady's owner said she was raised at home and had strayed. He posted photos of her online; she appears to be the animal behind bars and has a wound on top of her head between her ears. Her owner believes she suffered the blow when she was cornered. He spotted her in captivity on TV on March 23. She is drawing large crowds to the zoo.
Animal expert Ma Jinsheng, a Shandong zoologist, has visited the zoo and identified the caged animal as a friendly and obviously domesticated Siberian husky. The breed is known to be friendly and playful; it is not related to wolves.
Zoologist Ma observed the dog from outside its cage. "I fed it food through the bars and it took it willingly. The animal was very close to humans, not hostile at all and many of its physical features are different from those of the wolf species," he said.
Photos of all the animals have been posted online, triggering a national debate.
Among other differences, wolves have slanted eyes, tilted upward at the outer corners, but Siberian huskies' eyes are level - a horizontal line could be drawn through all four corners.
Many Siberians are distinctive, classic Siberians have ice-blue eyes and black markings; they also have brown, amber, green and bicolored eyes. Siberian huskies have different colored coats and markings, including gray, brown, light brown and reddish.
Wolves are common in parts of China, including eastern Shandong Province.
The first dead suspected wolf has been kept in a freezer; no DNA results have been reported.
In the face of mounting media inquiries, some forestry workers were quoted in media as saying they were ordered not to talk about the case.
Information and photos have poured in by the thousands from husky owners, breeders and animal experts, as well as police from other provinces. Some TV stations have invited experts to discuss the difference between wolves and huskies. Owners and their Siberian huskies have been invited to appear on television.
While there are some similarities, there are differences, notably in the shape and color of eyes. Jiangning Police, from Nanjing City in Jiangsu Province, reported on its official microblog that wolves' eyes are tilted upward at the outer corners at a 45-degree angle, while the eyes of Siberians are level. Wolves eyes tend to be yellow; Siberians' eyes can be blue and other colors.
Some self-described animal experts said online that huskies lack the protective darker colored outer fur on the back that wild wolves have. There's been some humor in all this as well.
One person online said, "The ultimate way to tell the difference is that the only thing a husky knows how to do is to be utterly loving and playful with humans and that would never happen with a wild wolf!"
Online alerts have been issued to Siberian huskies to avoid traveling to Shandong Province. Another said, "Husky, remember to wear a big tag saying "Not a Wolf!' when going outdoors!"
Some humorous dog owners shaved their huskies' coats in hindquarters and uploaded the photos, noting that even police and forestry officials could figure out that wolves wouldn't get a shave.
Chow-chow owners said they were afraid their very big furry dogs would be mistaken for bears and captured.
But police admitted they needed time to determine whether the dead animals were responsible for the attacks.
Siberian huskies are traditionally working animals, hauling loads and sleds. They are extremely popular as pets because of their good nature.
In the latest turn in the case, police announced over the weekend that second "wolf" shot dead on March 26 was in fact a Siberian husky, based on DNA test results. The body was being returned to its owner. Of all three animals, it was most obviously a classic husky, with blue eyes and distinctive black and white markings.
Police and forestry officials - after first proudly proclaiming they had bagged "killer wolves" and "man eaters" in a huge lupine dragnet - have been silent since there was a public uproar and claims that they got the wrong beasts.
Animal experts, animal lovers and even police in Jiangsu Province said they got it wrong and described the difference between wolf and Siberian husky.
Police said they had to shoot with live bullets because the public was terrified after two villagers had reportedly been killed by "wolves" on March 14 near Tengzhou City. Several other people were injured by animals in the same area, some seriously. Police had no tranquilizer darts.
Results were not yet reported for the first "wolf" shot dead on March 19 and kept in a freezer, and the "wolf" captured and put in a zoo on March 23. There was no immediate explanation for why DNA results were not available for the animals killed and captured earlier.
Animal lovers and experts are outraged and say that in all three cases the cops got Siberian huskies, two of them pets, not wild wolves.
One man says his 5-year-old Siberian husky, Lady, is caged in the Tengzhou City Zoo and authorities won't release her; DNA is not yet available. Lady's owner said she was raised at home and had strayed. He posted photos of her online; she appears to be the animal behind bars and has a wound on top of her head between her ears. Her owner believes she suffered the blow when she was cornered. He spotted her in captivity on TV on March 23. She is drawing large crowds to the zoo.
Animal expert Ma Jinsheng, a Shandong zoologist, has visited the zoo and identified the caged animal as a friendly and obviously domesticated Siberian husky. The breed is known to be friendly and playful; it is not related to wolves.
Zoologist Ma observed the dog from outside its cage. "I fed it food through the bars and it took it willingly. The animal was very close to humans, not hostile at all and many of its physical features are different from those of the wolf species," he said.
Photos of all the animals have been posted online, triggering a national debate.
Among other differences, wolves have slanted eyes, tilted upward at the outer corners, but Siberian huskies' eyes are level - a horizontal line could be drawn through all four corners.
Many Siberians are distinctive, classic Siberians have ice-blue eyes and black markings; they also have brown, amber, green and bicolored eyes. Siberian huskies have different colored coats and markings, including gray, brown, light brown and reddish.
Wolves are common in parts of China, including eastern Shandong Province.
The first dead suspected wolf has been kept in a freezer; no DNA results have been reported.
In the face of mounting media inquiries, some forestry workers were quoted in media as saying they were ordered not to talk about the case.
Information and photos have poured in by the thousands from husky owners, breeders and animal experts, as well as police from other provinces. Some TV stations have invited experts to discuss the difference between wolves and huskies. Owners and their Siberian huskies have been invited to appear on television.
While there are some similarities, there are differences, notably in the shape and color of eyes. Jiangning Police, from Nanjing City in Jiangsu Province, reported on its official microblog that wolves' eyes are tilted upward at the outer corners at a 45-degree angle, while the eyes of Siberians are level. Wolves eyes tend to be yellow; Siberians' eyes can be blue and other colors.
Some self-described animal experts said online that huskies lack the protective darker colored outer fur on the back that wild wolves have. There's been some humor in all this as well.
One person online said, "The ultimate way to tell the difference is that the only thing a husky knows how to do is to be utterly loving and playful with humans and that would never happen with a wild wolf!"
Online alerts have been issued to Siberian huskies to avoid traveling to Shandong Province. Another said, "Husky, remember to wear a big tag saying "Not a Wolf!' when going outdoors!"
Some humorous dog owners shaved their huskies' coats in hindquarters and uploaded the photos, noting that even police and forestry officials could figure out that wolves wouldn't get a shave.
Chow-chow owners said they were afraid their very big furry dogs would be mistaken for bears and captured.
But police admitted they needed time to determine whether the dead animals were responsible for the attacks.
Siberian huskies are traditionally working animals, hauling loads and sleds. They are extremely popular as pets because of their good nature.
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