The Arctic wolves in Harbin Polar Park

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Arctic wolf cubs to arrive in Harbin

(China Daily)

Li Fangchao

2006-08-02

 

HARBIN: Two Arctic wolves are set to become the latest

additions to Harbin Polar Park.

 

The two wolves, which are being imported from Canada,

are expected to arrive today, said Li Xiaolu, director

of the public relations office of the park.

 

" These are the first two Arctic wolves to be formally

introduced to the country, " Li said.

 

They are male and female cubs, are 70 centimetres tall

and weigh around 30 kilograms.

 

The Arctic wolf, also called polar wolf or white wolf,

is listed as one of the most endangered wild animals

in the world.

 

They are mainly distributed in forested areas within

the arctic circle, for example the islands in the

north of Canada.

 

" As the habitats are hard to access, few people have

spotted a real one, " Li said.

 

The wolves' new home will be 40-square-metres, with

one concrete wall on the back and the other three

walls made of 40-centimetre-thick toughened glass.

 

" Visitors can see all the wolves' activities without

any obstacles; and the wolves could have intimate

contact with people, at the distance of 40-centimetres

of course, " Li said.

 

The place is half water and half land, as the wolves

like to swim sometimes, according to Li.

 

The Arctic wolves will neighbour two polar bears,

which arrived last year.

 

The temperature will be kept around 7 to 15 C, which

is said to be the most comfortable temperature for the

wolves.

 

The park in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's

Heilongjiang Province, has brought animals from both

polar regions together.

 

" We mainly focus on endangered polar species and are

willing to help those who want to research these

animals, " Li said.

 

Covering an area of more than 10,000 square metres,

the park currently has two white whales, two polar

bears, 14 penguins, four seal dogs, four sea lions as

well as many types of fish.

 

(China Daily 08/02/2006 page3)

 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2006-08/02/content_654917.htm

 

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Why pair of Canadian wolves won't eat

(Xinhua)

2006-08-11

 

Chinese and foreign experts in northeast China's

Heilongjiang Province are trying to figure out why two

Arctic wolves are not eating and appear to be starving

themselves since their arrival from Canada on August

3.

 

The two-year-old male and female were brought from

Canada. Staff at their new home, the Zoo for Polar

Animals in Harbin, capital city of Heilongjiang, had

planned a public relations campaign to ask the public

to name them. But the wolves have refused to eat

anything and have nothing but water since their

arrival.

 

" The wolves will be in danger if they don't eat for 15

days, " said Canadian expert Mr. Mackie.

 

" Maybe they have not adapted to the new environment

here, " said Wang Yunhai, vice chairman of the

Heilongjiang Animal Husbandry Association.

 

The wolves' new home is the size of a football field.

They are being offered dishes of beef, pork, fruits

and vegetables.

 

The Arctic wolf is an endangered species.

 

Yao Lei, spokesperson with the zoo said that it was

the first time China has imported Arctic wolves.

 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-08/11/content_662197.htm

 

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Arctic wolves starving in China

News24

11/08/2006

 

Beijing - Two Arctic wolves, the first China has

imported, have refused to eat since their arrival at a

zoo last week, putting the endangered animals' health

at risk, state media said on Friday.

 

The wolves have snubbed dishes of beef, pork, fruit

and vegetables offered to them since their arrival

from Canada on August 3 at the Zoo for Polar Animals

in Harbin, Heilongjiang province in northeast China,

Xinhua news agency said.

 

They appeared to be starving themselves and had

consumed nothing but water since their arrival, Xinhua

said, adding experts were perplexed.

 

" Maybe they have not adapted to the new environment

here, " said Wang Yunhai, vice-chairperson of the

Heilongjiang Animal Husbandry Association, offering

only the most obvious of explanations.

 

The male and female wolves, both two years old, had

been placed in an enclosure at the zoo the size of a

football field, Xinhua said.

 

Their lives would be in danger if they did not eat for

15 days, Xinhua quoted a Canadian expert as saying.

 

The Arctic wolf is an endangered species.

 

http://www.news24.com/News24/Technology/News/0,,2-13-1443_1981252,00.html

 

 

 

 

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