Co-author Irina Rotenko
In our giant expertise and giant dataset on wolf copy in Belarus (e.g., Sidorovich and Rotenko, 2019), there may be a lot proof that the extensively unfold thought of monogamous wolves is principally flawed.
We studied the wolf copy in Belarus (mainly in Naliboki Forest and Paazierre Forest) for virtually 25 years, and through this lengthy interval we gained many sorts of supplies (discovering of dens with pups and tracing the litters till winter by camera-traps, post-mortem of wolf carcasses and so forth.). Specifically, the gained denning materials is predicated on discovering of 86 dens with pups and additional tracing the litters.
Primarily based on our knowledge, we wish to state that in our research areas in Belarus the minority of grownup wolves breed monogamously, and grownup wolves change breeding companions for various causes not hardly ever, due to this fact, typically this concept of monogamous wolves is flawed. To help our speculation, we wish to discuss with two sorts of our supplies: First, it’s the registration of multi-breeding in a wolf pack. Second, it’s pairing tales of three long-living wolves from the identical pack that we traced for a decade.
As for our first argument, we’ve already shared our findings on pack multi-breeding in one in every of our latest posts. Right here we summarize them briefly. Until 2019, we obtained pretty detailed details about denning of 59 wolf breeding teams (i.e., a pair or a fancy breeding group that consists of two breeding females and an grownup male, no less than) in Belarus, in addition to an post-mortem of all wolves from 9 entire packs which had been killed in March-early April, was performed. In 17 instances we detected double-breeding (i.e., there have been two breeding females in a fancy breeding group), and in two instances triple-breeding was noticed (Sidorovich & Rotenko, 2019). The obtained knowledge present that until 2019 a pack multi-breeding occurred in 32% of instances (denning data) or 22% of instances (carcass data); nonetheless, we might need underestimated these values, as a result of a few of the instances of pack multi-breeding couldn’t be detected, particularly earlier than 2015.
Since 2015 in Naliboki Forest we’ve studied on pack multi-breeding in wolves with excessive accuracy by investing a number of efforts and figuring out loads about wolf breeding behaviour on this forested terrain. In complete, throughout 9 years (2015-2023) we traced 24 wolf breeding teams (11 pairs and 13 advanced breeding teams). Throughout these 9 years, we investigated 38 breeding tales intimately; pack multi-breeding was quite common, and it occurred in additional than half of the studied instances, so pack multi-breeding turned extra widespread than breeding in pairs there.
Concerning pack multi-breeding, it is crucial to notice that within the instances of breeding a number of females with one male, the opposite breeding females usually had been his daughters. Alternatively, they had been subordinate non-related roaming females.
Now we wish to describe the pairing tales of three long-lived wolves from the identical pack, whom we’ve traced for a decade in Naliboki Forest, central-western Belarus. We named them: Torn Ear (feminine), Pryhazhun (male), and Pliamistaja (feminine). They had been simply recognizable wolves. Truly, solely Torn Ear was recognized to us since 2013. You may see these wolves within the images and video under.
Earlier than describing the tales, we wish to level out that Naliboki Forest wolf packs primarily consisted of adults due to excessive pup mortality (Sidorovich and Rotenko, 2019). Please take this under consideration, and don’t be shocked if a pack had double or triple breeding, the pack had no younger ones in the course of the subsequent winter.
Since February 2013, Torn Ear has lived and reproduced in Naliboki Forest. In the spring of 2013, Torn Ear was a part of a wolf breeding group that consisted of three females and one or two males. A giant, dark-colored male stayed with Torn Ear alone, whereas both the identical male or one other smaller and lighter one mated with the opposite two females. We discovered their three litters at distances of about 430, 220, and 380 meters from one another. The pups in every litter had been of various ages. The denning space in mid-Might coated about 8-10 sq. kilometers. This denning space was barely bigger or smaller in different years in mid-Might (hereafter known as the denning space).
In the breeding seasons of 2014 and 2015, wolves had been bred by three grownup females and two giant grownup males on this denning space. Two of the females had been the identical as earlier than, together with Torn Ear, and one was a brand new one which we named Pliamistaja (which implies noticed). One of many males was the identical darkish one as earlier than, and the opposite was a brand new one with brown-black-white fur that we named Pryhazhun (which implies lovely). Pryhazhun stayed primarily with Pliamistaja throughout denning.
In the spring of 2016, there was a wolf breeding group on this denning space that consisted of two females (Torn Ear and Pliamistaja) and two males (Darkish one and Pryhazhun). The dark-colored male paired with Torn Ear nonetheless, whereas Pryhazhun mated with Pliamistaja. These pairs both stayed collectively or aside, however inside a small distance of 1-2 km from one another. Torn Ear had pups, however we weren’t certain if Pliamistaja did or not.
In the spring of 2017, there was a wolf breeding group on this denning space that included three females (Torn Ear, Pliamistaja and presumably Torn Ear’s daughter) and two males (Darkish one and Pryhazhun). All three females had pups, and the dens had been about 0.92, 0.72, and 0.95 km aside. The darkish male cared for 2 females, Torn Ear and her daughter, whereas Pryhazhun sorted Pliamistaja. Torn Ear additionally visited the dens of the opposite females.
In the spring of 2018, a wolf breeding group bred on this denning space. There have been two litters, and every litter was cared for by all 4 breeders.
In the spring of 2019, Torn Ear, Pliamistaja and Pryhazhun bred once more on this denning space. Pryhazhun mated with each females, who had their pups about 3 km aside from one another. Then in mid-Might, each females and their litters moved to the identical locality inside an space of two sq. km. Nevertheless, since September, Pryhazhun stayed with Pliamistaja solely, whereas Torn Ear paired with one other smaller male. Each pairs lived peacefully in the identical dwelling vary, however they didn’t work together with one another.
This conduct continued till the next winter, when a pack of six grownup wolves appeared, together with Torn Ear, Pliamistaja and Pryhazhun. Throughout the denning interval in 2020, these six wolves shaped three semi-independent breeding pairs. From Might to July, the pups of the three households stayed shut to one another, inside the space of 3 km in a diameter and normally solely 0.3-1.8 km aside. We noticed all of the grownup males close to every of the three litters. Additionally, Torn Ear and one other feminine with seen nipples had been seen close to every litters for a number of occasions. Apparently, Torn Ear’s male associate, whom she stayed with in the course of the earlier autumn and winter, disappeared. Whereas denning, she was supported by one other male, who joined the wolf group by mid-winter. The second pair was Pliamistaja and Pryhazhun, and the third pair was shaped by a brand new female and male.
We recorded how two females and their male companions alternately or collectively dug a burrow-den by increasing a former pink fox den; then they inspected the burrow-den repeatedly for a number of days; then one pair led to 5 giant pups to the den. At a distance of about one km, inside one other homesite of about 20 hectares, we clearly noticed the 2 pairs and their pups staying along with one other grownup feminine (new one). She most likely acted as a pup-sitter (as a result of later she was seen close to the pups extra usually). In the fourth homesite, all three subfamilies of Torn Ear’s pack joined collectively. Their pups stayed there primarily in an space of 2-3 km2 till the tip of October. Throughout that interval, the six father or mother wolves and one subordinate grownup feminine (attainable pup-sitter) hunted collectively within the surrounding habitats (as much as 6 km away).
In the spring of 2021, two {couples} bred on this denning space: Pryhazhun and Pliamistaja, and Torn Ear and a brand new giant male. Throughout the denning interval, they had been seen collectively outdoors their dens and close by pups.
In early winter, Torn Ear disappeared. Earlier than that, one other grownup feminine joined the pack. In late January 2022, Torn Ear’s giant male associate left the pack or was killed, and Pryhazhun mated with each females. These three wolves (Pryhazhun and his two mates) stayed collectively afterward. In late March 2022, one of many females had pups in a burrow-den. On April twentieth, there have been no less than three pups together with her. One other recognizable feminine (whom we referred to as Pliamistaja) had pups in late April, about 1.8 km away from the primary feminine’s den, and in mid-Might, Pliamistaja had 4 pups of about three weeks previous in her burrow-den. Pryhazhun cared for each females. Pliamistaja visited the denning space and dens of the opposite feminine. All three wolves (Pryhazhun and his two mates) walked collectively in April and Might.
In the spring of 2023, on this denning space, we noticed triple-breeding. Pryhazhun mated with three females throughout denning: Pliamistaja, her daughter with an identical spot on her again, and a brand new feminine. The space between their dens assorted as much as 2 km. The preliminary dens of Pliamistaja and her daughter had been about 420 meters aside.
In the above story, we confirmed that wolf mating companions in Belarus are very versatile and changeable, and this could occur even when each companions are alive. Furthermore, the previous companions should still coexist peacefully close by. Male wolves can have a number of mates, which is widespread in Belarus. So, the concept of monogamous wolves doesn’t apply typically.
We have now many extra examples of irregular wolf breeding, however even from these above-presented two sorts of knowledge, wolf breeding looks like a chaotic course of. Nevertheless, on this chaos, there may be one constant sample that’s very important for his or her survival: They produce as many offspring as attainable, even by inbreeding, at any price. This chaotic breeding is pushed by the extraordinary human persecution of wolves, which ends up in the one development of accelerating their numbers.