Main image via LADBible + Simple Wikipedia
We’ve been hearing more and more about animals coming out from the wild recently due to the fact that most humans are staying in their homes to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Now, a wolf has been reportedly seen for the very time in over a century in northern France!
via GIPHY
“A large canine was captured by an automatic camera in Normandy, northern France,” Newsweek reported.
Authorities at the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) believe that the animal that was caught on camera is a European grey wolf, and if this were true, this sighting would mark the first wolf seen in this region of France in over a century.
Local news reports state that the image of the lone wolf was taken on an infrared camera overnight on 7th-8th April in Londinières - a village northeast of Normandy.
Image via LADBible
While it cannot be confirmed through the images captures, OFB noted that the canine is most likely a gray wolf (Canis lupus lupus), but they added that additional information is needed to confirm the sighting.
“Give the quality of the images provided and considering that many breeds of dogs can have a size and coat similar to that of a wolf, this expertise should be considered with some reservation, the OFB said.
Speaking to Newsweek, an OFB spoekesperson noted: “The photo was analysed by several people experienced in the identification of the wolf and who concluded that there was a high probability. However, it cannot be said it is a wolf… Only DNA analysis on biological material would remove doubts.”
Image via LADBible
“This type of observation of an animal alone and far from the areas where the species is installed is characteristic of individuals in the dispersal phase, a phenomenon which occurs twice in the year, in the spring and in the fall,” OFB stated.
As wolves usually travel in packs, the OFB notes that this lone wolf could be off on its own in search of a mate – as is the tendency in young wolves.
“These colonizing individuals can travel several hundreds of kilometers before settling,” the OFB said. “This explains in particular certain isolated observations, far from known permanent presence zones, as in Seine-Maritime.”
Image via LADBible
Wolves used to be a common sight across a majority of Europe but due to human activity, their population has plummeted and in the twentieth century, the species officially became locally extinct in many regions they used to call home.
In France back in the 1930s, European grey wolves were hunted to extinction but they re-entered the country from Italy in the 1990s but until now, none have been sighted so far north.
Around 530 wolves are thought to be living in France today but a majority of them are found in the Alps or towards the south-east near the border with Italy.
Image via LADBible
This sighting of a wolf is definitely one for the history books!
We’re howling in delight!
Be sure to keep playing your part in staying safe and staying home so that we not only #FlattenTheCurve together but allow nature to grow and heal while we do!
Stay updated with the latest COVID-19 news here: https://en.syok.my/covid-19
Info via Newsweek