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Chinese researchers have successfully cloned a wild Arctic wolf named Maya, using a technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer. This landmark conservation project aims to aid species threatened with extinction due to factors like climate change and human development. While controversial, cloning technology presents new possibilities for preserving biodiversity. Similar efforts have been made for other endangered species, reflecting a global urgency to combat the sixth mass extinction, primarily driven by human activities. However, ethical concerns and health implications surrounding cloning and gene editing warrant further research and guidelines.

The controversy:

Cloning animals is controversial due to ethical concerns and potential health implications. Critics argue that it raises questions about the welfare of cloned animals and the ethics of manipulating genetic material. Additionally, there are uncertainties about the long-term health and viability of cloned organisms. The practice also raises philosophical debates about the sanctity of life and the role of humans in altering natural processes. Moreover, there are concerns about the potential misuse of cloning technology, such as creating animals for commercial purposes or attempting to resurrect extinct species.

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Chinese researchers clone an Arctic wolf in ‘landmark’ conservation project | CNN

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Researchers in China have cloned a wild Arctic wolf -- and they’re hoping the controversial genetic technology can now be used to help save other species under threat as the world edges toward an extinction crisis.

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The Arctic wolf plays a crucial role in its ecosystem as a top predator. By regulating the population of herbivores such as muskoxen and caribou, the Arctic wolf helps maintain the balance of the ecosystem. It also indirectly impacts the behavior and distribution of other species, which can have cascading effects on the entire food web. Additionally, the presence of Arctic wolves can affect the vegetation and landscape of their habitat.

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Arctic wolves live along the northern edge of the North America continent, spanning the Canadian Arctic region, including Ellesmere Island and Devon Island, parts of Alaska, and northward to the North Pole, as well as along the eastern and northern shores of Greenland.

It appears that historic and modern range of the Arctic Wolf is the same.

https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/Arctic_animals/arctic_wolf.php

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They are predatory carnivores, hunting in packs for caribou and musk-oven. They also eat hares, ptarmigan, lemmings, and other small animals including nesting birds.

https://www.torontozoo.com/animals/Arctic%20wolf#:~:text=Diet,small%20animals%20including%20nesting%20birds.

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The Arctic wolf, adapted to extreme conditions, faces threats from climate change, habitat loss, competition, hunting, and human encroachment. Conservation efforts include establishing protected areas, involving local communities, reducing conflicts, monitoring, mitigating climate change, and combating illegal activities. Success in these initiatives is crucial for preserving the Arctic wolf and its habitat, ensuring biodiversity, and promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife. The Think Wildlife Foundation supports such efforts and encourages contributions to their conservation initiatives, particularly through the Caring for Pari campaign aiding a rehabilitated elephant.

https://thinkwildlifefoundation.com/how-is-the-arctic-wolf-being-conserved/

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Arctic wolves are social animals and their psychological well-being and growth is dependent on important social interactions. Wolves can express a wide variety of social preferences and their pack social structure can be complex, with pair and group bonds forming. Arctic wolves live in packs of around four to seven individuals. Generally, the size of the pack will depend on how much food happens to be available to them. Wolf packs follow the cues of the head male and female, called the alphas. In any pack there is only one alpha male and alpha female, and often these two have the pups, which are then looked after by the whole pack.

https://wildwelfare.org/wp-content/uploads/Arctic-wolf.pdf

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As a subspecies of grey wolves, Arctic wolves are listed on the IUCN Red List of endangered species as least concern. They were listed as vulnerable from 1982 to 1995, but their status was upgraded to least concern in 1996 and has remained the same ever since.

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Also known as white wolves or polar wolves, Arctic wolves are a subspecies of grey wolves that roam the vast, frozen landscape of the Arctic. Like other grey wolves, Arctic wolves are nocturnal pack animals that hunt together, follow the lead of an alpha male, and communicate by howling. They all care for the pack's pups, taking turns to protect and feed them. Because of their extreme habitat, Arctic wolves also have distinctive appearances and behaviours that distinguish them from other grey wolves.

Living in the High Arctic region covering the Canadian Arctic, parts of Alaska, and the northern coast of Greenland, these white wolves must withstand average winter temperatures of -30°C (-22°F) and several months with no sunlight. Their thick white coat and furry paws are essential for both insulation and camouflage in their almost permanently snow-covered habitat. Arctic wolves are smaller than other grey wolves and have smaller ears and shorter noses. These adaptations allow them to lose less body heat, while their extra layer of fat works as both insulation and food storage for the long Arctic winters when food can be scarce.

Capable of surviving in some of the harshest, most extreme conditions on Earth, this subspecies of grey wolves is integral to the Arctic ecosystem. As carnivorous hunters, they play a vital role in their environment by helping to control populations of animals in the region, such as caribou, musk oxen, and Arctic hares.

The lucky few who have observed Arctic wolves in the wild note how playful and unafraid of humans they are. Unlike other wolves who have to deal with human encroachment every day, Arctic wolves have no intrinsic distrust of humans. Their harsh environment means that they have never been hunted or displaced by agricultural development, and they have never faced endangerment as a result. However, the world's changing climate and the increasing industrialisation of the Arctic are likely to have devastating effects on the future of the Arctic wolf and its habitat.

What is the Arctic wolf's scientific name?

The scientific name for the Arctic wolf is Canis lupus arctos. The genus Canis comes from the Latin word for dog, while the subspecies name lupus arctos is Latin for 'wolf of the Arctic'.

Are Arctic wolves endangered?

As a subspecies of grey wolves, Arctic wolves are listed on the IUCN Red List of endangered species as least concern. They were listed as vulnerable from 1982 to 1995, but their status was upgraded to least concern in 1996 and has remained the same ever since.

Thanks to their remote, icy habitat, Arctic wolves live far away from any human populations. This means they don't face the same threats as wolves living in closer proximity to humans. However, they are still threatened by climate change, the consequences of which could alter their status in the coming years.

Where do Arctic wolves live?

The Arctic wolf's habitat is one of the most remote in the world. It spans the Canadian Arctic region, including Ellesmere Island and Devon Island, parts of Alaska, and the western and northern shores of Greenland. Because of its remoteness, Arctic wolves rarely encounter humans and, unlike most grey wolves, can roam freely across the territories they inhabit. In fact, Arctic wolves are the only subspecies of grey wolves that can be found across the entirety of their original range.

Average temperatures in this high Arctic region are around -30°C (-22°F) in winter but can feel a lot colder because of wind chill. In the summer, temperatures reach a maximum of around 2°C (35.6°F). This far north, the winters are long and shrouded in almost continual darkness, while ice and snow permanently cover most of the area.

The brief summer period from mid-June to mid-August provides a degree of respite from the dark and freezing winters. As well as extended hours of daylight, the usually snowy landscapes melt to reveal low-growing plants, providing the Arctic wolf's preferred prey with more food and making it easier for wolves to hunt.

With that said, Arctic wolves are so well-adapted to the harsh, barren, and freezing environment they inhabit that they can withstand months of bitter temperatures and darkness. When necessary, they can survive for up to several weeks without food.

Since Arctic wolves live in a remote habitat that is far removed from humans, they don't face the same threats as other wolves, such as human encroachment, agricultural development, or hunting. However, they do face two significant threats-industrial development and climate change.

Industrial development

The construction of new mines, access roads, and underground pipelines in the increasingly industrialised Arctic region is causing disruptions in the remote areas where Arctic wolves live. As well as encroaching on the territory that Arctic wolves inhabit, this industrial development interrupts their food supply, threatening their survival.

Climate change

Climate change-and the consequent extreme weather variations-has made it more difficult for Arctic hares and musk oxen to find food, causing their population numbers to decline. As these animals are two of the Arctic wolf's main sources of food, their decreasing populations puts Arctic wolves at risk. Moreover, Arctic wolves are so well-adapted to life in the bitter cold of the Arctic that any change to their natural climate could be catastrophic for their ongoing survival.

Find out more about these fascinating creatures with these quick Arctic wolf facts.

What do Arctic wolves eat?

Arctic wolves are carnivorous hunters. They mainly prey on musk oxen and Peary caribou, but they also eat Arctic hares, seals, waterfowl, ptarmigans, and lemmings.

How big are Arctic wolves?

The average Arctic wolf is between 60 and 91 centimetres (24 and 36 inches) tall. From head to toe, they measure 100 to 180 centimetres (38 to 71 inches) long. The average weight of a fully grown male ranges from 32 to 70 kilograms (70 to 55 pounds).

Do polar bears eat Arctic wolves?

Polar bears are the only predator of the Arctic wolf and would find it easy to hunt and kill Arctic wolves-especially pups-thanks to their acute sense of smell and immense size. However, Arctic wolves provide little nutritional value for polar bears and would only ever be hunted as a last resort in times of extreme food scarcity.

Where do Arctic wolves sleep?

Arctic wolves are unable to dig dens in the permanently frozen soil of their natural habitat, so they often sleep in caves, in shallow ground depressions, or beneath rocky ridges.

Are Arctic wolves nocturnal?

Like other grey wolves, Arctic wolves are nocturnal, as it's easier to hunt at night when their prey are less prepared for attack. Arctic wolves have excellent eyesight, which comes in handy when hunting during the Arctic's long period of constant darkness from the end of October to the end of March.

Can Arctic wolves swim?

Arctic wolves can swim. This BBC report reveals how a crew filming a nature documentary on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic observed Arctic wolves swimming in an attempt to catch waterfowl. While they mainly stalk their prey on dry land, the Arctic wolf's swimming ability allows them to hunt various types of prey.

There's also genetic evidence to suggest that Arctic wolves scattered across the islands in the Canadian Arctic, including on Banks Island and Victoria Island, move between these islands-likely by swimming-to maximise their chances of catching prey.

Do Arctic wolves change colour?

Arctic wolves have white coats all year round. This is in contrast to Arctic foxes who are white for most of the year but develop a grey coat in the summer months.

As well as keeping them warm, the Arctic wolves' thick white coats work as the perfect camouflage in their almost permanently snow-covered, frozen habitat.

Do Arctic wolves hibernate?

Arctic wolves have adapted so well to their environment that they don't need to hibernate during the freezing winter months when prey can be scarce. They can survive up to a few weeks without food.

Do Arctic wolves hunt in packs?

Like other subspecies of wolves, Arctic wolves live and hunt in small family groups of around six to ten individuals, although packs can sometimes include up to more than twice this number.

Wolf packs operate on a strict hierarchy, with a dominant alpha male at the top alongside his alpha female mate-the group's breeding pair. The rest of the pack includes their offspring of various ages.

Both male and female Arctic wolves are very active in hunting prey. In winter, when food is more scarce, packs will hunt together to secure a kill. In summer, however, when there are more opportunities to catch prey, hunts are often conducted alone.

To secure enough prey for the pack, Arctic wolves roam long distances of up to 19 kilometres (12 miles) per day.

Do Arctic wolves migrate?

Arctic wolves do not migrate, but the scarcity of their prey-especially in winter-forces them to hunt across large areas of up to 2,600 square kilometres (1,000 square miles) in search of food. In winter, packs will also follow migrating caribou when they head further south to ensure that the pack has a consistent food source.

How do Arctic wolves communicate?

Like other wolves, Arctic wolves communicate by howling. The sound of their howl can travel up to 10 kilometres (six miles), making this a useful tool for them to send messages across the long distances they cover every day. A lone Arctic wolf will often howl to attract the attention of his pack, while communal howls can be confrontational, sending territorial messages from one pack to another.

How do Arctic wolves reproduce?

Each pack of wolves has a breeding pair made up of the alpha male and alpha female, who are the only individuals in the pack that reproduce. They typically breed between February and April, with the female giving birth to a litter of five or six pups in the spring after a two-month gestation period. Since the frozen earth makes underground dens difficult to dig, Arctic wolves' pups are often born in caves, in natural holes or burrows, or beneath rocky ridges.

After they are weaned from their mother's milk at six to nine weeks, the adult members of the pack work together to supply the pups with a diet of regurgitated meat. Throughout the spring and summer, the newborn pups are the pack's focus-both in terms of their attention and their geographical positioning, since the pups are too small to travel far. By October or November, most Arctic wolf pups are adult-sized and ready to survive their first Arctic winter.

After spending two or three years in the pack, many Arctic wolves will leave to search for a mate and possibly even start their own pack.

How do Arctic wolves stay warm?

Arctic wolves are fascinating because of their ability to stay warm in freezing temperatures. They can survive the cold thanks to several anatomical and physiological adaptations.

One of these is their thick, furry coat, which consists of an inner layer of shorter hairs for insulation and an outer layer of waterproof and snow-proof longer hairs. Arctic wolves also have furry paws that keep them warm while traversing the snow and ice and a thick layer of body fat for further insulation.

How long do Arctic wolves live?

Although they can survive for much longer in captivity, Arctic wolves live for around six to eight years in the wild.

How many Arctic wolves are left in the world?

Their extreme environment makes Arctic wolves difficult to study and count. While the IUCN doesn't have an estimate for how many Arctic wolves are left, research does suggest that their population is decreasing.

How can you help?

Though they aren't currently endangered, the Arctic wolf population is decreasing, and they face the looming threat of climate change. IFAW is working around the world to make communities and ecosystems more climate-resilient.

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Arctic Wolves: Diet, Habitat, Threats & Other Facts | IFAW

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Arctic wolves are a subspecies of grey wolves that roam the Arctic's frozen landscape. Find out more about these white wolves and how to protect them.

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Because of its remoteness, Arctic wolves rarely encounter humans and, unlike most grey wolves, can roam freely across the territories they inhabit. Therefore, I could not find any articles about how people view these amazing beasts.

However, there was a study done that was the first one studying the behavior of wild arctic wolves concerning human presence. Down below is a summary of the article.

Summary

Data from 1819 to 2019 in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and Greenland were analyzed. 325 behavioral observations were made, with the most common behavior being wolves seeking out humans. This behavior contrasts with typical canid behavior in lower latitudes and may lead to conflicts. Aggression towards domestic dogs was also observed, further contributing to conflict. With the small wolf population and increased human access due to melting sea ice, appropriate hazing techniques and education are crucial for conservation efforts.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/27219113

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At Canada's northernmost edge lies a remote and barren wilderness: Ellesmere Island. There, a family of Arctic wolves is raising a litter of pups within an unforgiving environment. This stunning 4K documentary transports viewers to one of the far corners of Planet Earth for an intimate look at the relationships and the highly choreographed social and hunting rituals that allow the pack to survive.

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Canada's White Wolves: Ghosts Of The Arctic | 4K Wildlife Documentary | Real Wild

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Arctic wolves are well adapted to icy conditions. White fur allows them to blend into snowy surroundings. To help reduce heat loss their ears are small and rounded, the muzzle is short, and the fur is dense. Their extra layer of fat works as both insulation and food storage for the long Arctic winters when food can be scarce. Legs are shorter than other subspecies. They have tufts of hair between the pads of their feet.

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This study reports the disappearance of a small Arctic wolf population in north-east Greenland founded in 1979 and provides the first long-term information on the wolf packs of this region.

https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/5493/13460

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This study evaluates the use of acoustic devices as a method to monitor wolves by analyzing different variables extracted from wolf howls. By analyzing the wolf howls, we focused on identifying individual wolves, subspecies. We analyzed 170 howls from 16 individuals from the three subspecies: Arctic wolves (Canis lupus arctos), Eurasian wolves (C.l. lupus), and Northwestern wolves (C.l. occidentalis). We assessed the potential for individual recognition and recognition of three subspecies: Arctic, Eurasian, and Northwestern wolves.

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Staff at the park in Wherstead have welcomed the pack, with a hint of even more exciting arrivals next month.

The Dalton Wolf pack has moved to Suffolk from South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria as part of an adventurous new development plan at the peninsula wildlife park.

Just before making the move at the end of August, a pup, called Neville, was born with a slightly different 'browny pink' appearance due to the soil.

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It may not quite be arctic weather on the Shotley peninsula yet but Jimmy's Farm are getting ready to introduce animals that can more than cope with the coldest of conditions.

A pack of at least six arctic wolves, including a recently born pup, are set to join the wide range of animals at Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park, and are expected to meet their public, within the next few weeks.

Staff at the park in Wherstead have welcomed the pack, with a hint of even more exciting arrivals next month.

The Dalton Wolf pack has moved to Suffolk from South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria as part of an adventurous new development plan at the peninsula wildlife park.

Just before making the move at the end of August, a pup, called Neville, was born with a slightly different 'browny pink' appearance due to the soil.

Arctic wolves are smaller than grey wolves and have smaller ears, shorter muzzles and shorted legs to reduce heat loss through exposure to the bitterly cold air. They live in packs of around seven to ten.

Jimmy's farm has also revealed on it's Facebook page that a film has been made about Jimmy Doherty and his rescue mission as they re-home the animals from abroad.

The park will have to abide by strict planning conditions and licensing from Babergh District Council before being allowed to go on display.

Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park has grown from a smallholding not a major east England attraction and now boast camels, zebras and lizards along with its mix of rare breeds, including pigs, goats, sheep and Suffolk Punch horses.
Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park has been contacted and invited to comment.
Pictures supplied by Chris Haggan Photography - see more here...
Jimmy's Farm hit by scammers...

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Arctic Wolves re-homed by Shotley peninsula park

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Staff at the popular park in Wherstead have been preparing to re-home a pack of arctic wolves

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Whereas much is known about the behavior and development of captive young wolf (Canis lupus) pups, less detail has been published about some aspects of free-ranging wolf pup behavior. This article synthesizes 42 observations of free-ranging Arctic wolf pups from ages 13 through 52 days made during 10 summers from 1987 through 2006 on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada.

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Wolves are notoriously reluctant to interact with people, but this rare semi-wild pack have grown up surrounded my humans since they were born. With the spectacular scenery of Arctic Norway as a back-drop, tick off some major bucket-list highlights such as seeing the Northern Lights, husky dog sledding and exploring Norwegian mountains and fjords surrounding Tromsø.

The wolves will let you come up close, stroke and even sing with them in their natural environment. They love you even more if you indulge them with a kiss! All this and along the way you can enjoy some world class local food straight out of the Arctic Ocean or surrounding tundra!

https://www.arcticholiday.co.uk/tours/kiss-of-the-arctic-wolf/