Secret decoding of the life of the Arctic wolf species

Scientists in the United States and Canada are gradually shedding light on the centuries-old secrets relating to the lives of Arctic wolves in the winter.

David Mech, an American geologist and Dean Cluff, head of a research project on Arctic wolves in Northwest Canada, used a GPS-attached satellite navigation device. a male male wolf named Brutus.

This device allows scientists to determine Brutus's position and pathways and activity in the herd during the winter when the temperature in the North Pole can drop to minus 70. Celsius and no daytime 24 hours continuously every day.

Arctic Brutus wolf wearing on a GPS device.(Photo: Toronto Star)

After mounting Brutus on the GPS device on July 9, the two scientists watched Brutus via satellite when the wolf led three tribes to cross Ellesmere Island to Axel Heiberg island, each time they went deep into territory. earth.

During each trip, the wolf flock crossed the 129km stretch in 84 hours before returning to Ellesmere Island and central Northwest Territories on November 21. And on November 30, Brutus and the wolf pack went a total of 2,726 km.

Cluff said Arctic wolves are not completely sleeping, they still hunt in the winter.

The members of this wolf pack consist of 11 large wolves and some small wolves who often look for the Arctic and rabbits, which is why they go so far.

In the past, scientists have been trying to understand what the Arctic wolf species does in the winter 6 months in the Arctic. There are also many theories that say this wolf can live for weeks without food.

Geological researcher Mech said that with such a large herd of wolves, they must definitely search a lot of prey to survive. What makes scientists looking for more answers is in the darkness throughout the winter, why they can still easily hunt prey.

Arctic wolves are carnivores and run very fast. He can live alone or live with herd with a herd of about 6. In the wild, the Arctic wolf can live up to 15 years.

The sense of smell, vision and hearing also develop very well, so helping the polar wolf species to hunt very effectively. The characteristics of Arctic wolf species identification are smaller than other wolves and have white, long and thick fur.

With powerful jaws and extremely sharp teeth, wolves can knock out large animals much larger than them and eat up to 9kg of meat at a time.