In Urumqi, Xinjiang, a villager who had been raising a “little dog” for three years recently discovered that it was actually a wild wolf. The small wolf has since been sent to a local wildlife rescue center by the villagers. This news has gone viral on Baidu’s hot searches on November 10.
According to reports from multiple mainland Chinese media outlets, three years ago, the villager came across what appeared to be an injured stray “little dog” on the road. The villager then took it home for care, thinking its leg had been injured in a car accident, and named it “Xiang Xiang.”
Initially, “Xiang Xiang” behaved like a normal little dog, cute and obedient. However, over time, this “little dog” started showing some strange signs.
Firstly, its size – “Xiang Xiang” kept growing larger and more robust, to the point where it no longer resembled a domestic dog. Its daily food intake was surprising, easily consuming around a kilogram of raw meat and showing little interest in regular dog food.
Moreover, “Xiang Xiang” had grown to about 1.2 meters in length, with sharp teeth, erect ears, a straight nose bridge, dense fur on its back, and a wild gleam in its eyes. The “little dog” exhibited high vigilance towards humans, immediately going on alert and preparing to attack when approached.
Most notably, during quiet nights, “Xiang Xiang” would emit howling sounds resembling that of a wolf, as if with age, it awakened the wild instincts hidden in its blood.
Unable to determine the true nature of the animal, the villager sought help from the relevant authorities. After expert evaluation in Urumqi, it was confirmed that this was a wolf cub.
Currently, the wolf cub has been safely transferred to the Xinjiang Wildlife Rescue Center.
A veterinarian explained to “Yangcheng Evening News” how to distinguish between a dog and a wolf: Huskies and wolves have a genetic similarity of 99%, making it challenging to tell them apart. Other pet dogs have their tails held upright and wagging, while wolves, huskies, and German Shepherds have tails that hang down.
However, Huskies are pet dogs, well cared for and with a round face, slightly larger than wolves. Wild wolves, living in the outdoors, have messy fur, long and pointed faces. Additionally, the eye colors of Huskies and wolves are completely different – Huskies have icy blue, clear eyes with a friendly gaze, while wolves have black, brown, yellow, or amber eyes, sharp and fierce.
Authorities also remind the public that wolves are wild animals with untamable natures, living in groups and displaying fierce characteristics. Their attack power far exceeds that of domestic dogs. Therefore, it is crucial not to keep or approach wild wolves privately to avoid dangerous situations.