Foreword: I still remember that Shen Shixi wrote a "Dream of the Wolf King" which became one of the favorite books of primary and secondary school students.
Wolves, as social animals, have their own social structure and will hunt in groups, just like the original humans.
However, the number of wolves is generally five to twelve, and in winter the wolf pack can even reach more than forty...
The ancestors of wolves and today's unique social structure
In fact, the ancestors of wolves are the same as the ancestors of dogs, our friends, and according to research, the origin of wolves can be traced back to the late Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic Era, more than 65 million years ago.
This time is the extinction time of the dinosaurs that occupied the earth for 165 million years, and in the following more than 10 million years, new generations of organisms began to bloom.
Among them is the common ancestor of today's dogs, bears, cats, etc.
In the middle of the Eocene 47 million years ago, Maltsiton began to diverge, divided into two major categories: the cat suborder and the canine suborder, the cat suborder is the current cat ancestor, and the canine suborder was differentiated in the later period.
37 million years ago, in the Oligocene, the canine family was differentiated, and the differentiated creatures were the earliest carnivores of ancient existence.
Eight million years ago, wolves and jackals appeared in Asia, and in the millions of years that followed, the ancestors of coyotes and red wolves were born.
Wolves are highly socialized, and their unique social structure has attracted the attention of researchers in the animal kingdom, and wolves are composed of a group of close-knit individuals who maintain the stability and cooperation of the group through a series of complex and sophisticated social rules and hierarchical relationships.
The social structure of a wolf pack is usually led by a pair of lead wolves, who are usually the strongest, most experienced, and most leading individuals in the pack.
The lead wolf is responsible for leading the entire herd, deciding the direction of hunting and movement, protecting the territory, and ensuring order within the herd, the lead wolf is also responsible for breeding and is usually the only pair capable of reproducing offspring.
Under the leader wolf, the other individuals in the group are divided into sub-leaders and followers, and the sub-leaders have a certain authority in the group and are responsible for assisting the leader wolf in managing the day-to-day affairs of the group.
Followers, on the other hand, occupy a lower social status in the group and are usually young, frail or new entrants, and this hierarchical structure facilitates an effective division of labor and makes the group more adaptable and predatory.
By establishing a clear hierarchy of society, wolves are able to more effectively coordinate hunting, territorial protection, care for their young, and deal with intra-group conflicts, and this social structure also helps to ensure an equitable distribution of resources and prevent strife and chaos within the group.
The social structure of wolves also manifests itself in a strict system of etiquette and communication, with wolves communicating with each other using facial expressions, howls, and more, which helps to maintain relationships with each other, transmit information and prevent conflicts from occurring.
Rank in the pack
There are multiple roles and levels in a wolf pack, and this diversity helps the group to better adapt to different environments and tasks, and in a wolf pack, common wolves can be broadly divided into three categories: leader wolves, inferior wolves, and marginal wolves.
Leading wolves, they are the leaders of the pack, and the leading wolves are usually the strongest, most experienced, and most leading wolves in the pack.
They are responsible for leading the group as a whole, developing hunting plans, protecting territories, dealing with conflicts within the group, and determining the direction of the group's actions.
The lead wolf is also responsible for breeding and is usually the only pair capable of reproduction, the lead wolf has the highest social status in the group, and other wolves will follow their command.
Then there are the inferior wolves, who are the secondary leaders in the group, and the inferior wolves are usually relatives of the leading wolves or individuals with higher status in the social structure.
They assist the leader wolf in managing the day-to-day affairs of the group and participate in the decision-making process, but they are in a secondary position in terms of social status, and the presence of inferior wolves helps to divide labor and improve the efficiency of the group.
The lowest level is the marginal wolf, as the name of the wolf, they are the weaker and marginal individuals in the group, this level of wolves is generally the old, weak, sick and disabled, and some wolves who have been expelled from the outside, so the marginal wolf has the lowest rank.
This division of labor and social hierarchy helps to improve the survival of the wolf pack, allowing it to more effectively cooperate in hunting, protecting territory, reproducing, and adapting to different environmental challenges.
The influence of howling
The howl of the wolf is not only to convey information, but also to show a concerted behavior, when a howl is sounded, the whole wolf pack gathers its collective strength and launches a joint action.
The howls of a pack are usually initiated by the lead wolves, and their howls have a special frequency and tone that can travel farther, directing the actions of the entire pack.
When the wolf king howls, the wolves in the distance will quickly howl in response, and this series of responses not only increases the intensity of the sound, but also conveys the unity and cohesion of the wolf pack.
Howling plays an integral role in the process of a key activity in the wolf pack, and the wolves often work in tandem, employing team tactics to chase, besiege and hunt their prey.
Howling is a means of command that helps wolves coordinate their movements, ensuring that each wolf is in the right place, making the most of their strengths and maximizing the success of the hunt.
What should we do if we encounter a wolf in the wild?
When encountering wolves in the wild, there are some cautious and calm actions that should be taken to ensure your own safety, and here are some suggestions:
Stay calm: In the event of a wolf encounter, staying calm is the most important thing, and try to avoid sudden movements or loud calls that can attract the wolf's attention.
Don't run away: Wolves have a strong desire to chase, and if you try to escape, they may chase you, try to stay standing, facing the wolf, and slowly back away.
Don't turn your back on the wolf: Wolves often see their backs as potential aggression and try to face the wolf as much as possible to show off their size and make themselves look bigger.
Protect yourself: If the wolf behaves threatening, you may need to raise your arms to protect your face and neck, using a coat, backpack, or other items to protect your body.
Avoid direct eye contact: Direct eye contact may be interpreted as a threat or challenge in the wolf's world, try to avoid looking the wolf in the eye as much as possible.
Make noises: If the wolf continues to get closer, you can try making noises such as talking loudly, using whistles, or tapping hard objects, which have the potential to scare the wolf away, especially for wolves in the wild.
Use protective gear: If you know beforehand that you may be in an area infested with wolves, consider wearing some protective gear, such as tall boots, stab-proof suits, or other defensive gear.
Notify your peers: If you're not alone, notify your companions immediately and make sure everyone is taking consistent action to improve safety.
Look for high ground: If possible, try to find high ground to put yourself in a relatively safe position. Wolves usually avoid climbing, so standing on a higher ground may provide additional safety.
Emergency call: If the wolf is aggressive and you feel threatened, immediately call local emergency services, such as police or wildlife conservation organizations.
Wolves are usually afraid of humans, and they will try to avoid conflict with humans, and it is usually most effective and safe to stay calm when encountering wolves.