What is hokkaido wolf?

The Hokkaido wolf (Canis lupus hattai) was a subspecies of gray wolf that was native to Hokkaido, Japan. It was known for its distinctive appearance, with a thick coat of fur to withstand the cold climate of the region.

The Hokkaido wolf was once common on the island of Hokkaido, but its population declined rapidly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to hunting, habitat loss, and disease. The last confirmed sighting of a Hokkaido wolf was in 1889, and the species was officially declared extinct in 2013.

Efforts have been made to reintroduce a closely related species, the Eurasian wolf, to Hokkaido in order to help restore the ecological balance of the region. However, the Hokkaido wolf remains a symbol of the impact of human activities on wildlife populations and the importance of conservation efforts to protect endangered species.