Tibetan wolf
Encyclopedia
The Tibetan wolf also known as the woolly wolf, is a subspecies of grey wolf native to Central Asia
from Turkestan
, Tien Shan throughout Tibet
to Mongolia
, northern China
, Shensi, Sichuan
, Yunnan
, and the western Himalayas
in Kashmir
from Chitral
to Lahul. They also occur in the Korean peninsula
. In Tibet, it is known as the chángú, while near the Niti pass from Kumaon, it is known as the chankodi.
The Tibetan wolf is thought by some scientists to be the most likely ancestor of the domestic dog, on account of its small size and mandible morphology, noting that the uppermost part of the lower jaw is turned back on both the Tibetan wolf and the dog, though not so in other grey wolf subspecies.
The colour of the pelt varies seasonally: on the winter coat, the back and tail are variegated by black and white or buff countour hairs, which are most defined on the back, where they form a black and white saddle running from the shoulders to the loins. The wool beneath the contour hair is of a brightish buff to clear grey colour, while the belly and outer side of the legs are buff or whitish. Occasionally, a dark stripe of varying intensity may be present on the forelegs. The ears are drabby grey or rich ocherous. The crown and muzzle are closely tinted with black speckles, which extend below the eye on to the upper cheeks and ears, isolating a white spot. The chin is varies from blackish to almost white. The contour hairs of the winter fur measure 100–120 mm on the shoulders, 70–80 mm on the back and 40–60 mm on the flanks. It is a smallish subspecies which rarely exceeds 45 kg. Physically, the Tibetan wolf resembles the Eurasian wolf
, but has shorter legs and has short, pale, fulvous
hairs on the ears, flanks and the outside of the legs. The skull is virtually identical to that of the Eurasian wolf, though its nose is longer and more slender. It is larger than the Indian wolf
, and lacks a black tail tip. Black wolves
in Tibet are known locally as chanko nagpo, and are considered bolder and more aggressive than the pale coloured variety.
s throughout the year, marmot
s in summer, and large numbers of goa
and sheep in winter, when deep snow impedes the latter's mobility. They rarely succeed in catching bharal
, due to the rougher ground they inhabit. Large numbers of wolves have been reported to reduce leopard
populations in Tibet, but they can be a serious problem for livestock owners. A study on livestock predation showed the wolf was the most prominent predator, accounting for 60% of the total livestock losses, followed by the snow leopard
(38%) and lynx
(2%). Goat
s were the most frequent victims (32%), followed by sheep (30%), yak
s (15%), and horse
s (13%). Wolves killed horses significantly more and goats less than would be expected from their relative abundance. Humans are occasionally targeted: Col. Stockley reported that wolves killed several children in Ladakh
and Lahoul, while in Japanese Korea in 1928, wolves claimed more human victims than tiger
s, leopard
s, bear
s and boar
s combined.
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
from Turkestan
Turkestan
Turkestan, spelled also as Turkistan, literally means "Land of the Turks".The term Turkestan is of Persian origin and has never been in use to denote a single nation. It was first used by Persian geographers to describe the place of Turkish peoples...
, Tien Shan throughout Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
to Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
, northern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Shensi, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
, Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
, and the western Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
in Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
from Chitral
Chitral
Chitral or Chetrar , translated as field in the native language Khowar, is the capital of the Chitral District, situated on the western bank of the Kunar River , in Pakistan. The town is at the foot of Tirich Mir, the highest peak of the Hindu Kush, high...
to Lahul. They also occur in the Korean peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
. In Tibet, it is known as the chángú, while near the Niti pass from Kumaon, it is known as the chankodi.
The Tibetan wolf is thought by some scientists to be the most likely ancestor of the domestic dog, on account of its small size and mandible morphology, noting that the uppermost part of the lower jaw is turned back on both the Tibetan wolf and the dog, though not so in other grey wolf subspecies.
Physical description
Eurasian Wolf
The Eurasian Wolf , also known as the, European, Common or Forest Wolf is a subspecies of grey wolf which has the largest range among wolf subspecies and is the most common in Europe and Asia, ranging through Mongolia, China, Russia, Scandinavia, Western Europe and the Himalayan Mountains...
, but has shorter legs and has short, pale, fulvous
Fulvous
Fulvous is a colour, sometimes described as dull reddish-yellow, brownish-yellow or tawny, it can also be likened to a variation of buff, beige or butterscotch. As an adjective it is used in the names of many species of birds, and occasionally other animals, to describe their appearance...
hairs on the ears, flanks and the outside of the legs. The skull is virtually identical to that of the Eurasian wolf, though its nose is longer and more slender. It is larger than the Indian wolf
Indian Wolf
Indian wolf and Iranian Wolf are two common names for Canis lupus pallipes, a subspecies of grey wolf which inhabits western India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and southern Israel. Some experts have suggested at least some C. lupus pallipes populations be re-classified a canid species...
, and lacks a black tail tip. Black wolves
Black wolf (animal)
A black wolf is a melanistic color variant of the grey wolf . Black specimens are recorded among red wolves , but these color variants are probably extinct...
in Tibet are known locally as chanko nagpo, and are considered bolder and more aggressive than the pale coloured variety.
Behaviour
Tibetan wolves do not form large packs, and typically travel in pairs or threes. They feed largely on hareHare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
s throughout the year, marmot
Marmot
The marmots are a genus, Marmota, of squirrels. There are 14 species in this genus.Marmots are generally large ground squirrels. Those most often referred to as marmots tend to live in mountainous areas such as the Alps, northern Apennines, Eurasian steppes, Carpathians, Tatras, and Pyrenees in...
s in summer, and large numbers of goa
Goa (antelope)
The Goa , also known as the Tibetan Gazelle, is a species of antelope that inhabits the Tibetan plateau.-Description:...
and sheep in winter, when deep snow impedes the latter's mobility. They rarely succeed in catching bharal
Bharal
The bharal or Himalayan blue sheep or naur, Pseudois nayaur, is a caprid found in the high Himalayas of Nepal, Tibet, China, India, Pakistan, and Bhutan...
, due to the rougher ground they inhabit. Large numbers of wolves have been reported to reduce leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
populations in Tibet, but they can be a serious problem for livestock owners. A study on livestock predation showed the wolf was the most prominent predator, accounting for 60% of the total livestock losses, followed by the snow leopard
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
(38%) and lynx
Lynx
A lynx is any of the four Lynx genus species of medium-sized wildcats. The name "lynx" originated in Middle English via Latin from Greek word "λύγξ", derived from the Indo-European root "*leuk-", meaning "light, brightness", in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes...
(2%). Goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
s were the most frequent victims (32%), followed by sheep (30%), yak
Yak
The yak, Bos grunniens or Bos mutus, is a long-haired bovine found throughout the Himalayan region of south Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau and as far north as Mongolia and Russia. In addition to a large domestic population, there is a small, vulnerable wild yak population...
s (15%), and horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s (13%). Wolves killed horses significantly more and goats less than would be expected from their relative abundance. Humans are occasionally targeted: Col. Stockley reported that wolves killed several children in Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent...
and Lahoul, while in Japanese Korea in 1928, wolves claimed more human victims than tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
s, leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
s, bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
s and boar
Boar
Wild boar, also wild pig, is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises...
s combined.