History of Wolf in Timeline

The wolf, or grey wolf, a canine native to Eurasia and North America, is the largest wild member of the Canidae family. Distinguishable from other Canis species by its less pointed ears and muzzle, shorter torso, and longer tail, it's still closely related enough to breed with coyotes and jackals. Its fur displays mottled colors of white, brown, grey, and black, with arctic subspecies often appearing nearly all white.

1905: Last Japanese wolf captured and killed

The last Japanese wolf was captured and killed in 1905.

1921: Custer Wolf's Reliance on Coyotes

According to a 1921 press release by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the infamous Custer Wolf relied on coyotes to accompany him and warn him of danger.

1954: Wolf protection in Israel

Israel has protected its wolves since 1954 and has maintained a moderately sized population of 150 through effective enforcement of conservation policies.

1963: Publication of Never Cry Wolf

Farley Mowat's largely fictional memoir Never Cry Wolf was published in 1963 and is widely considered to be the most popular book on wolves.

Never Cry Wolf : Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves

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1963: Wolf specimen from southern China

In 1963, a museum specimen of a wolf from southern China showed a genome that was 12–14% admixed from an unknown canid.

1972: Wolf protection in India

The wolf has been protected in India since 1972.

1973: Protection under the Endangered Species Act

In 1973, wolves were given protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the contiguous United States.

1977: Collaboration to prevent Mexican wolf extinction

From 1977 to 1980, the Mexican and U.S. governments collaborated in capturing all Mexican wolves remaining in the wild to prevent their extinction and established captive breeding programs for reintroduction.

1979: Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats

In 1979, the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Appendix II) provided strict protection for wolves in many EU countries.

1980: Collaboration to prevent Mexican wolf extinction

1980: Rebound of European wolves

Since 1980, European wolves have rebounded and expanded into parts of their former range.

1992: Council Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora

In 1992, the Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (Annex II and IV) provided strict protection for wolves in many EU countries.

1998: Legal protection for wolves in China

Wolves have been legally protected in China since 1998.

1999: Mitochondrial DNA study

In 1999, a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) study was used as a guide in forming Wozencraft's decision to list the 38 subspecies of C. lupus under the biological common name of "wolf".

2002: Rabid wolf attacks statistics

In the fifty years leading up to 2002, Europe and Russia experienced eight fatal attacks, while southern Asia faced more than two hundred due to rabid wolves.

2003: Global wild wolf population estimate

In 2003, the global wild wolf population was estimated at 300,000 individuals.

2005: Publication of Mammal Species of the World

In 2005, the third edition of Mammal Species of the World was published, in which W. Christopher Wozencraft listed 36 wild subspecies of C. lupus and proposed two additional subspecies: familiaris and dingo.

2007: Wolf numbers in the northwest Iberian peninsula

As of 2007, wolf numbers in the northwest Iberian peninsula were estimated to be around 2,500.

2016: Genomic study of Old World and New World wolves

A 2016 genomic study suggests that Old World and New World wolves split around 12,500 years ago, followed by the divergence of the lineage that led to dogs from other Old World wolves around 11,100–12,300 years ago.

2016: Estimates of wolf numbers

As of 2016, estimates of wolf numbers include: 4,000 in the Balkans, 3,460–3,849 in the Carpathian Mountains, and 1,700–2,240 in the Baltic states.

2017: Evidence of wolf range across mainland China

2017 evidence suggests that wolves range across all of mainland China.

2018: Wolf population in the Great Lakes states

As of 2018, the repopulation of wolves in Midwestern United States has been concentrated in the Great Lakes states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan where wolves number over 4,000.

2019: Indian wolf population estimate

As of 2019, it is estimated that there are around 2,000–3,000 Indian wolves in the country.

2019: IUCN workshop on Canidae

In 2019, a workshop hosted by the IUCN/Species Survival Commission's Canid Specialist Group considered the New Guinea singing dog and the dingo to be feral Canis familiaris and recommended they not be assessed for the IUCN Red List.

2021: Genetic study on dog-into-wolf gene flow

In 2021, a genetic study found that the dog's similarity to the extant grey wolf was the result of substantial dog-into-wolf gene flow, with little evidence of the reverse.

2021: Study on Himalayan and Indian plains wolves

In 2021, a study found that the Himalayan wolf and the Indian plains wolf are part of a lineage that is basal to other wolves and split from them 200,000 years ago.

2025: Report of Potential Tool Use by Wolves

In 2025, a field report documented a wolf pulling a crab trap's buoy and line to bring the submerged trap to shore and access its bait cup, which the authors described as potential tool use.

2026: Global wild grey wolf population estimation

As of 2026, the global wild grey wolf population is estimated to be between 200,000 and 250,000 individuals and is assessed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).