A Three-Way Conflict Over Food: Alpha Male Intervenes

In the video, a wolf appears to be showing submission or begging for food from the alpha male. The alpha male responds with fairly hard muzzle grab before seemingly leaving a piece of meat for that wolf. However, shortly after, another wolf approaches the first one, displaying behaviors such as standing over, snarling, and growling. But the first wolf doesn’t back down—instead, it holds its ground, showing aggression and defending the food. At this point, the alpha male stealthily moves in, pounces, and asserts dominance over both two wolves. He then appears to carry the meat away but does not consume it.
This zoo practices relatively extensive management methods. Last year, they kept 22 wolves born in 2022 together in one enclosure, resulting in a relatively high density. This might have led to more tense relationships among the pack members compared to a typical wolf pack. Among the three wolves interacting in the video, I was only able to identify the alpha male.

Recorded on February 24, 2024, at Harbin Northern Forest Zoo.

Видео A Three-Way Conflict Over Food: Alpha Male Intervenes канала Tianyi Guo