Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China — Ever seen a wolf go gopher-mode? Extraordinary footage out of Northwest China where a pack of wolves was filmed by a drone tunneling through 3-foot deep snow. The footage was taken by a local herder shows several larger wolves breaking trail while the smaller juveniles followed their lead.
Wolf researcher Dave Mech was bit perplexed as to why they were out in the middle of this snow field and theorized the might have just been sleeping and it snowed a bunch before they moved along.
Historically, wolves occupied a wide range across China, including high-altitude areas in northwest Yunnan. However, due to human activities, such as habitat loss and persecution, have led to local extirpations in these previously occupied regions.
Estimates of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) population in China generally range between 6,000 and 12,500, with stable populations found in remote regions, including the northern, western, and southwestern parts of the country. They are legally protected although enforcement is unfortunately known to be weak.Â
