CHINA / National

Why pair of Canadian wolves won't eat
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-08-11 06:58

Chinese and foreign experts in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province are trying to figure out why two Arctic wolves are not eating and appear to be starving themselves since their arrival from Canada on August 3.

The two-year-old male and female were brought from Canada. Staff at their new home, the Zoo for Polar Animals in Harbin, capital city of Heilongjiang, had planned a public relations campaign to ask the public to name them. But the wolves have refused to eat anything and have nothing but water since their arrival.

"The wolves will be in danger if they don't eat for 15 days," said Canadian expert Mr. Mackie .

"Maybe they have not adapted to the new environment here,"said Wang Yunhai, vice chairman of the Heilongjiang Animal Husbandry Association.

The wolves' new home is the size of a football field. They are being offered dishes of beef, pork, fruits and vegetables.

The Arctic wolf is an endangered species.

Yao Lei, spokesperson with the zoo said that it was the first time China has imported Arctic wolves.