Concerns rise as wolves seek food from vehicles in Qinghai

Several wolves in Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, Qinghai province, have recently been begging for food from passing vehicles along a major highway, triggering concerns over safety and wildlife disruption.

During an interview with China Central Television, driver Yuan Youming said he only saw a single wolf last year, coming to get food along the road. As more people came to feed the wolf, more wolves appeared. "I saw four wolves at most, and they get used to finding food, especially meat, from people."

The increasing interactions lead to health risks for the wolves and safety risks for the humans.

Feeding wolves salty food could harm their health and discourage them from hunting, which could lead to overpopulation among herbivores like Tibetan antelopes, which leads to more grass consumption and possibly vegetation degradation, according to Lian Xinming, a researcher from the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in an interview with CCTV.

Close interactions, including feeding and photographing wildlife, can provoke animals and pose safety risks. On the busy 109 National Highway, narrow roads and frequent truck traffic make stopping dangerous, leading to congestion and the potential danger of injury or infection.

Some places are focusing on improving systems and strengthening supervision over feeding animals.

In another case, staff members at the Baotu Spring scenic spot in Jinan, Shandong province, have begun urging visitors not to feed the fish after a giant koi allegedly died from overeating during the weeklong national holiday.

Guo Yanqi contributed to this story.