A rare specimen has been identified at a Japanese national museum, thanks to the work of a junior high student. She led a study on a taxidermy piece that's now been identified as the hide of an extinct Japanese wolf.
Thirteen-year-old Komori Hinako's curiosity was piqued when she saw the specimen at the National Museum of Nature and Science four years ago. It was labeled “wild dog,” but the girl thought it closely resembled a creature she'd seen in picture books.
(Komori Hinako)
“At first glance, I was like, 'This is a Japanese wolf.' The wolf has these whiskers, which are just amazing.”
Japanese wolves are believed to have gone extinct about a century ago. With the help of experts, Komori determined the one displayed here was likely a Japanese wolf that was kept at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo just before the animal died out.
A rare specimen has been identified at a Japanese national museum, thanks to the work of a junior high student. She led a study on a taxidermy piece that's now been identified as the hide of an extinct Japanese wolf.
Thirteen-year-old Komori Hinako's curiosity was piqued when she saw the specimen at the National Museum of Nature and Science four years ago. It was labeled “wild dog,” but the girl thought it closely resembled a creature she'd seen in picture books.
(Komori Hinako)
“At first glance, I was like, 'This is a Japanese wolf.' The wolf has these whiskers, which are just amazing.”
Japanese wolves are believed to have gone extinct about a century ago. With the help of experts, Komori determined the one displayed here was likely a Japanese wolf that was kept at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo just before the animal died out.