A rare discovery in France of a pair of wolves, each from a distinct genetic background, has excited animal lovers demanding their protection and objections from farmers eager to protect livestock.
Environmental association Carduelis earlier this month reported it had spotted the pair of wolves, a male German-Polish wolf — a species found mostly in western Poland and eastern Germany — and an Italian she-wolf, usually native to the Italian peninsula.
Many European countries have reported an increase in wolf populations, aided by a return of deer, wild boar and other forms of prey.
While wolf packs typically remain in areas of no more than a few hundred square kilometers, young wolves can travel alone over thousands of kilometers.
The French finding, confirmed by authorities, has scientists speculating that a mix of both gene pools could produce a more resilient wolf population.
“This is a massive stroke of luck,” said Carmen Munoz Pastor of Carduelis. “It will allow a genetic mingling that is always favorable to animal or plant species.”
Any offspring carrying a genetic crossing of the two different European wolf lineages would be a first in France, Carduelis said.
Animal defense association One Voice called for the pair to be protected, including against the so-called “defensive” shooting of wolves.
Local authorities have permitted shooting, which they said allows farmers to protect their livestock from wolf attacks.
“The male wolf has already been injured,” One Voice president Muriel Arnal said.
“Some livestock farmers have so much hatred of wolves at a time when they are returning to France naturally,” she said.
Arnal said the two animals were the only wolves on a massive plateau in the Correze department in central France, about 500km south of Paris.
“There’s room for everybody,” she said.
Arnal has pleaded with local authorities to ban wolf shooting, recommending the use of guard dogs instead, but to no avail.
Twenty-five local livestock farmers continue to be authorized to shoot at wolves who they suspect of killing dozens of farm animals every year.
‘EYE FOR AN EYE’: Two of the men were shot by a male relative of the victims, whose families turned down the opportunity to offer them amnesty, the Supreme Court said Four men were yesterday publicly executed in Afghanistan, the Supreme Court said, the highest number of executions to be carried out in one day since the Taliban’s return to power. The executions in three separate provinces brought to 10 the number of men publicly put to death since 2021, according to an Agence France-Presse tally. Public executions were common during the Taliban’s first rule from 1996 to 2001, with most of them carried out publicly in sports stadiums. Two men were shot around six or seven times by a male relative of the victims in front of spectators in Qala-i-Naw, the center
Incumbent Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa on Sunday claimed a runaway victory in the nation’s presidential election, after voters endorsed the young leader’s “iron fist” approach to rampant cartel violence. With more than 90 percent of the votes counted, the National Election Council said Noboa had an unassailable 12-point lead over his leftist rival Luisa Gonzalez. Official results showed Noboa with 56 percent of the vote, against Gonzalez’s 44 percent — a far bigger winning margin than expected after a virtual tie in the first round. Speaking to jubilant supporters in his hometown of Olon, the 37-year-old president claimed a “historic victory.” “A huge hug
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is leaning into his banking background as his country fights a trade war with the US, but his financial ties have also made him a target for conspiracy theories. Incorporating tropes familiar to followers of the far-right QAnon movement, conspiratorial social media posts about the Liberal leader have surged ahead of the country’s April 28 election. Posts range from false claims he recited a “satanic chant” at a campaign event to artificial intelligence (AI)-generated images of him in a pool with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “He’s the ideal person to be targeted here, for sure, due to
DISPUTE: Beijing seeks global support against Trump’s tariffs, but many governments remain hesitant to align, including India, ASEAN countries and Australia China is reaching out to other nations as the US layers on more tariffs, in what appears to be an attempt by Beijing to form a united front to compel Washington to retreat. Days into the effort, it is meeting only partial success from countries unwilling to ally with the main target of US President Donald Trump’s trade war. Facing the cratering of global markets, Trump on Wednesday backed off his tariffs on most nations for 90 days, saying countries were lining up to negotiate more favorable conditions. China has refused to seek talks, saying the US was insincere and that it
RSS