Page 53 - World of Animals - Issue #41

Arctic wolf

Arctic Circle

Northern Canada

Habitat

In the land of wolves

Living away from humans has its advantages, but Arctic wolves aren’t entirely safe from danger
United States of America
Wolves have had their range narrowed as Least Concern on the IUCN’s Red List of wolves were spotted roaming the area in 1978,
significantly due to human interference. threatened species. and they have been gradually repopulating the
Grey wolves have lost a third of their original While Arctic wolf populations are healthy area ever since.
territory – they are now extinct in many places on the whole, the canines have had a rough It is thought that human vehicles may
where they used to thrive, including parts of history in certain parts of their range. A have helped the animals to reclaim their lost
Western Europe, Mexico and the US. population in east Greenland was totally territory, with wolves from north Greenland
Mexico
Luckily, the Arctic wolf faces less persecution decimated by hunters in the 1930s, who following tracks left by military sleds and
than other members of the lupus species. poisoned the area’s entire population to forming new packs in the homes of their
Mexico City
This is partly due to the remoteness of their prevent the wolves from interfering with their eastern ancestors.
populations – dwelling in largely uninhabited fox hunting expeditions. Climate change is now among the Arctic
areas such as Northern Canada, Alaska, While it is difficult for Arctic wolves to wolf’s most pertinent threats. Although they
Greenland and Iceland means the white wolves make a comeback due to their small litter are adaptable predators, prey species like musk
rarely come into contact with humans, and sizes and infrequent breeding, the animals oxen and Arctic hares find it difficult to cope
therefore pose less of a risk to settlers or have managed to make a recovery in east with extreme weather variations, and this has
domestic animals. They are currently classed Greenland. After a 40-year absence, a few reduced the wolves’ food supply.
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Family ties

Classifying the Arctic wolf as its own subspecies has proved
problematic for some scientists
It is clear that there are many physical in 2012 that suggested the Arctic
differences between the common wolf’s genetic differences with the
grey wolf and Arctic wolves. Yet grey wolf were not clear enough for a
the question of whether the Arctic subspecies to be recognised.
wolf should be officially considered This was considered controversial,
a subspecies of the grey wolf has and when a review commissioned by
become a hotly debated topic among the United States Fish and Wildlife
taxonomy experts. Service investigated further, it found
British zoologist RI Pocock first that Chambers’ research was not
described the Arctic wolf as a separate thorough enough to be considered
subspecies in 1935. After examining scientifically accurate.
the skull of a wolf that was discovered As such, it is still acceptable
on Melville Island in Canada, he to describe the Arctic wolf as a © freevectormaps.com; Thinkstock; Frank Lane Picture Agency; Getty
concluded that it was different enough subspecies of the grey wolf. Whether
from the mainland-dwelling grey wolf you agree or not, the canines’ obvious
to be considered its own subspecies. white colouration and remarkable cold-
A separate group of scientists led weather adaptations should be enough Experts still disagree
by CM Chambers later disputed to differentiate between these two if the Arctic wolf is a
Pocock’s premise, publishing a paper impressive predators. separate species

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