China dominated in the diving event at the Fukuoka World Aquatics Championships despite losing in the last event on Saturday, as Chinese divers claimed a total of 12 out of 13 gold medals at this year's worlds diving.
In the men's 10m final, China's Lian Junjie finished runner-up while his compatriot Yang Hao won bronze. Australian Cassiel Rousseau broke China's grip on diving for the first time in six years by winning gold. China had won every world championship diving event it had entered since 2017.
Meanwhile, China's Zhu Zifeng and Lin Shan won gold in the mixed 3m synchronized as China finished the worlds diving event with 12 gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
In the artistic swimming on Saturday, China's Cheng Wentao and Shi Haoyu clinched gold with an impressive performance.
In the Mixed 3m & 10m Team final of diving on Tuesday, China pocketed its ninth gold in convincing fashion by surpassing Mexico and Germany.
"China's diving dream team has never disappointed us," said one user on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo.
In the Artistic Swimming Team Technical Routine final on Monday, the Chinese team secured the gold medal with a score of 238.0033. The teams from the US and Japan claimed the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
The Chinese diving team excelled in the women's 3m synchronized springboard and men's 10m synchronized platform, clinching two gold medals. Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani, the defending champions in the women's 3m synchronized from the previous edition of the Swimming World Championships, took the gold with a score of 341.94.
In the men's 10m synchronized platform final, which featured 12 pairs of participants, the Chinese duo Yang Hao and Lian Junjie garnered a total of 477.75 points for their six dives, leading the second-place pair by nearly 40 points.
On Sunday, the Chinese team added two golden medals. Peng Jianfeng won the men's 1m springboard gold. In the women's 10m synchronized platform final, China's female diving aces Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan claimed the championship, dominating the competition with a total score of 369.84 points. They surpassed the second-place British pair of Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson by 58.08 points. The victory also secured a berth for the duo in the diving competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
A total of 22 female swimmers and 19 male swimmers from China are competing in all 42 events at the championships, which were originally scheduled to be held in Fukuoka in 2021.
The second season of the National Excellent Musical Performance recently opened in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province.
This performance brought together 18 musicals, among which the musicals The Ideal City and In the Distance, produced by the Beijing Performing Arts Group and performed by the Beijing Opera and Dance Theatre, stood out from nearly 100 participating works. The two works were staged at the Minnan Grand Theatre in Xiamen from November 13 to 18.
In the Distance focuses on the development and changes in the express delivery industry during a period of more than 20 years. Taking the struggle of young people as its center, it seeks to give audiences the persistence to chase their dreams and inject new vitality into original domestic musicals.
The "pioneering" musical has entered many first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and won the double affirmation of the market and word-of-mouth.
In September 2021, the original musical The Ideal City started brewing, and after two years of creation and polishing, it met audiences at the end of May, 2023.
The play takes a female perspective, playing out various workplace struggles in contemporary society. The ups and downs of the story vividly show the struggles of young people in Beijing.
The musical is adapted from a popular film and a TV show, based on realistic workplace ecology. With fashionable and novel artistic expression and avant-garde texture of the stage presentation, it won praise from all sides as soon as it premiered, and was hailed as "a surprise work of Beijing realistic musicals" by the public.
The 68th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Nepal and China serves as an opportune moment to highlight the strong and amicable relations between the two countries, Chhabindra Parajuli, economy minister at the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview ahead of the anniversary.
"China's rapid development has captivated the world, as it harnesses its unique strengths in modernization, mechanization of agriculture, advancements in free trade zones, and high-tech industrial parks," he said.
As August 1 marks the 68th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Nepal, the economy minister expressed his hope that both countries will further deepen cooperation on various fronts, especially on cultural exchanges.
He stressed that fostering tourism and cultural exchanges in both Nepal and China stands as a key strategy to strengthen cultural ties further.
"The abundance of natural resources and an investment-friendly environment in Nepal positions it as an enticing destination of choice for Chinese investors. In this era of globalization and regionalism, Nepal and China can forge fruitful collaborations on various fronts," he said.
According to him, a newfound enthusiasm for mutual cooperation is evident in the realms of trade, investment, and cultural exploration.
"China's growing middle-class population is set to drive rapid expansion in tourism, ensuring a promising future for the Nepal-China tourism relationship," he said.
Deepened people-to-people exchanges
According to Parajuli, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Nepal has steadily increased year-on-year, which is proof of rich people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, laying the foundation for robust bilateral relations.
On April 13, 2023, the first batch of Chinese trekkers arrived in the Nepali capital Kathmandu, bringing hope to Nepal's tourism hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nepali performers even showcased their skills outside the airport to welcome the arrival of Chinese trekkers in Kathmandu, read a Xinhua report.
The growing middle-class population in China has brought about a surge in outbound travelers, with Nepal emerging as a preferred destination. China became the second-largest source of tourists for Nepal before the pandemic.
Recognizing the potential of Chinese tourists, Nepal has rolled out a warm welcome to Chinese tourists, introducing measures like visa-on-arrival, waived visa fees, and improved air connectivity.
The people-to-people exchanges between China and Nepal started more than 1,000 years ago. Looking back in history, one of the first foreign travelers to Nepal was the Chinese traveler and philosopher, Xuan Zang, an eminent Tang Dynasty (602-664) monk, marking the inception of Chinese tourism in Nepal.
Later, the renowned Nepali architect, Arniko further solidified ties between Nepal and China by venturing to China and designing and constructing pagoda-style temples in various locations. Among these cultural exchange symbols stands the White Dagoba Temple in Beijing, a testament to solid the China-Nepal friendship.
To cement cultural bonds, various promotional events and cultural festivals have been jointly organized in both countries. From the photo exhibition themed "Beautiful Nepal" in Beijing to the "China-Nepal Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival" in Pokhara, the series of activities have effectively promoted friendship, cultural exchanges, and fostered deeper understanding between the two nations.
This month, the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University said that it has trained nearly 50,000 Chinese-language professionals in Nepal since its inception 16 years ago, voicing its readiness to do more to promote cultural exchanges, Xinhua reported.
"The enduring legacy of cultural exchanges between the two ancient civilizations serves as a beacon, guiding their paths toward a harmonious and prosperous future," Parajuli told the Global Times.
Looking ahead
Tourism now plays a pivotal role in Nepal's economy. The development of Nepal's tourism industry has the potential to drive industrial linkages, supply chain maintenance, and create employment opportunities, Parajuli introduced.
Tourism also significantly contributes to the country's economic prosperity by creating employment opportunities, which in turn reduce poverty rates, and improve the standard of living for its people.
"China's rapid economic development has presented a plethora of opportunities for Nepal's tourism sector," Parajuli noted.
With policies aimed at developing tourism as a key driver of the national economy, Nepal is keen on expanding its market for meetings, conferences, and events. Initiatives such as building new international airports and introducing innovative tourism products reflect Nepal's determination to elevate its tourism industry.
The economy minister stressed that Nepal eagerly welcomes Chinese tourists and investors to partake in tourism infrastructure development projects and it extends an open invitation to all to explore its breathtaking landscapes and diverse cultural experiences.
"The availability of on-arrival visa services for Chinese travelers, the waiver of visa fees for Chinese nationals, and the convertibility of the Chinese Yuan for tourism and business purposes has made Nepal increasingly attractive to Chinese tourists and investors alike," he said.
At a recent WeChat Pay launch event in Nepal, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song also highlighted the "favorable prospects of the Chinese tourist market" in Nepal.
"China is ready to enhance the synergy of policies with Nepal, not only limited to traditional sectors, but also breaking new ground in emerging fields such as financial service trade, unlocking great potential for mutually beneficial cooperation," Chen said.
Since February 24, 2022, the beginning of the hostilities in Ukraine, the European Union has planned to give €20 billion ($21 billion) of aid to Kiev but failed to reach its strategic goal of defeating Russia economically and militarily. It turns out that the side effects of such politics damage European security, not Russia.
Initially, Brussels planned simultaneously to choke Russia with economic sanctions and provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) with a broad spectrum of weaponry for fighting against the Russian troops. After 18 months of war, the reality is very different from what was expected. The Russian troops being outnumbered by UAF nevertheless move forward. According to Russian and foreign military sources, the UAF has lost up to 300,000 soldiers. Officially Kiev mobilized 1 million citizens against Russia. But Kiev needs not only new soldiers. It also needs newer weapons, which Europe must bear the cost for.
UK, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Portugal and Spain transferred to Ukraine many tanks, Leopard 2 and Challenger 2, and other models. France and Italy gave rockets and armored vehicles. Despite all of this, the Ukrainian counteroffensive has gotten bogged down.
Ukraine uses 90,000 155-mm artillery shells per month. EU promises to give 1 million shells and for the time being Kiev got only 224,000. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of Estonia confessed: "It is possible that we might not be able to reach it." High Representative of EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell noted that the EU doesn't have enough materials to produce artillery rounds and has to import them. Borrell agreed it weakens the strategic security of the EU.
Figures confirm his confession. Only 18 percent of all defense investment in the EU is made in partnership with other member states. European countries prefer to cooperate with non-European actors who have cheaper resources and logistics.
European armies have problems with producing modern tanks, aircraft, and air defense systems. EU economics was nourished by cheap Russian energy resources and now they are cut off. German economics being for a long period a locomotive for the united Europe is now slowing down. It's an omen that weaker Western European economies (France, Spain and Italy) will soon face hard times, too.
Earlier Europe was one of the pillars of international political order. Now Europe is a puppet of Washington and losing geopolitical influence. European states have no resources for maintaining their presence in other parts of the world because all their attention is directed to Ukraine. Brazil needs Portugal no longer, and former French colonies in Africa refuse to be Paris' property and are eager to cooperate with non-European countries like China and Russia. British and Spanish influence in Africa and South America is also dwindling.
The control over Africa and South America once turned Europe into a powerful entity. Leaving these regions, now Europe says farewell to its influential geopolitical status and becomes second-range countries.
The US makes the EU give more generous aid to Ukraine but for the EU it means more economic and political damage. Europe is leaderless. Who "owns" European security strategy? The UK is closer to the US than the EU. France and Germany could potentially lead Europe but they have acute discrepancies about security issues. The French want the rearmament of European countries to be conducted with Europe-made weapons. The Germans insist Europe's military industry isn't capable of meeting the deadline. Berlin proposes to buy weapons from the US. Europe is leaderless because it's ruled by Washington.
Since the 1990s, the East European countries (Poland, Czechia, Romania and Slovakia) have had an American "Trojan horse" on the European continent. Their geopolitical function is to be a buffer between Europe and Russia and a bridgehead for American presence to deter possible cooperation between Moscow and Western Europe. Poland, Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia are talking not with their own voice but are echoing the US'. Ridiculously, Western Europe has been turned into the second "Trojan horse" by Washington. Using the Ukraine crisis as a cover, Washington has subjected Europe to American geopolitical interests.
A cross-party delegation of six Australian lawmakers started their four-day visit to the island of Taiwan on Monday. At this critical juncture when China and Australia are endeavoring to improve their strained ties, the provocative behavior of Australian lawmakers is a test for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Looking back over the past three years, China-Australia relations have transitioned from a frozen winter to a warm spring, although each step has come with its ups and downs. China and Australia held a high-level dialogue earlier this month. The Australian government has recommenced the visa process for Chinese group travelers. China has dropped anti-dumping tariffs on Australian barley imports. Albanese will also reportedly pay a visit to China later this year. These series of positive signals are a result of the bottoming out of bilateral relations after being damaged by the previous Morrison government.
Currently, the mutual trust between the two countries is still somewhat fragile, and the thawing of relations without trust can hardly be sustained. If China and Australia join hands, the improvement of ties is foreseeable, but if one side intentionally obstructs the process, it may add hurdles to this process.
By playing the Taiwan card, these MPs aim to create troubles in bilateral relations, seek international attention and gain political capital.
Qin Sheng, executive research fellow at the Center for Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that Taiwan could only get a rubber cheque from these MPs. Although Taiwan said that the visit demonstrates Australia's support for the island as well as its contribution to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, this rhetoric does not change anything.
"The Taiwan visit will only bring embarrassment to the Albanese government, because it could disrupt its configuration of China policy. Since Albanese took office, his China policy has been somewhat consistent without many twists and turns. But there are still unresolved issues between China and Australia, such as the wine dispute. China is unlikely to discuss this issue with Australia against the backdrop of Australian MPs' Taiwan visit," said Qin.
Qin added that this shows that Albanese's China policy could be jeopardized by party politics to some extent. This makes it hard for Albanese to make a stance toward this matter - he does not want to displease these politicians in his country, but he does not want their behavior to impede the positive trend of China-Australia relations either said Qin.
Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Centre of East China Normal University, believes that the visit to Taiwan by these MPs can easily be considered the official behavior of the Australian government by the outside world, which deserves vigilance of the Albanese government.
"If Albanese truly wants to mend ties with China, he should oppose, condemn and then rein in the rogue behavior of MPs visiting Taiwan," Chen told the Global Times.
Any country that engages with China knows that the Taiwan question is about China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the first red line that must not be crossed. On the Taiwan question, Australia once followed the US closely to provoke China. In 2021, then Australian defense minister said it would be "inconceivable" for Australia not to join the US should Washington take action to defend Taiwan, and Home Affairs Department Secretary Mike Pezzullo warned drums of war are beating. Australia had stepped into the strategic pathology of "sacrificing its own interests in exchange for the interests of the US." With Washington's playbook in hand, Canberra often thought of its China policy on behalf of Washington, but it turned out that Australia's national interests do not equal those of the US. The more dedicated and loyal Canberra is, the more it will be placed at the position of a stepping stone. In matters that concern China's core interests and Australia's future, the Australian government has no room for mistakes.
"Australia must firmly reject being instrumentalized or even weaponized by the US," said Chen, adding that Albanese and his team should continue with their rational China policy.
China is planning on a quest beyond the solar system to find habitable planets, and the first search will be carried out in 2030 upon the completion of a basic type of telescope array, Chinese researchers revealed at this year's China Space Day event.
The plan, called the Miyin program, aims to detect "another Earth" among near neighbors of the solar system through the launching of a telescope array. It will also carry out high-resolution imaging and spectroscopic observations of various types of objects to map the water composition of the solar system, opening a new era of high-resolution astronomical observation, Zhang Xuhui, executive vice president of the China Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Innovation, noted at the event.
"The Miyin program is ambitious and significant, but it is still in the technology development phase. In the future, we will advance its maturity through a series of flight tests while making scientific discoveries along the way," Zhang said.
An experimental satellite will be launched to carry out in-orbit tests in 2024, so as to solidify the technology foundation for core technology experimental satellites.
By 2025, optical interference technology experiments will be carried out onboard the China Space Station.
The next year will see the launch of a core technology experimental satellite, which is expected to realize spatially distributed optical interference detection for the first time, thus demonstrating and verifying the core technology of the Miyin program.
By 2030, the basic type of the telescope array will be completed, and optical interference imaging will be achieved. Then the search for habitable exoplanets will begin, Zhang noted.
The Miyin program will complement deep-space exploration and carry out precise measurements of solar system objects, revealing the characteristics of the solar system and planetary systems.
It will also map the morphology and physical properties of solar system objects, map the distribution of solar system molecular components, especially water, and reveal the origin and dynamics of the system and the evolution of chemical composition. It will also explore the formation process of habitable conditions of the Earth and the origin of life.
A Japanese restaurant in Shanghai has introduced and then removed an "anti-radiation" set meal after netizens questioned the dishes' radiation-proof function and criticized the restaurant for false advertising.
The Japanese government's dumping of nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean has hit Japanese restaurants in China with some temporarily closing or emphasized their ingredients not imported from Japan. Others considered transitioning their business focus or urgently changing their operating names.
Netizens found that one Japanese restaurant in Shanghai was promoting an "anti-radiation" double combo meal on Dianping, China's leading local lifestyle information and trading platform on Thursday, which consisted of tomatoes, green soybeans, spinach, chicken, and beef at the price of 180 yuan (roughly $25).
On the introduction page for the set meal, the anti-radiation effect of each dish was noted in detail. For example, "trace elements such as iron and magnesium promote metabolism for radiation protection" was noted behind the cold dish chilled tofu. The menu also noted that tomato salad has the function of "effectively reducing radiation-induced skin damage".
According to an employee from the restaurant, all main ingredients were home-grown after Japan started dumping nuclear-contaminated wastewater. Regarding the anti-radiation effects of the meal, the employee said that there was no specific scientific basis outside the head chef's careful selection of produce after gathering information and seeking advice from nutritionists.
But the set meal was quickly removed on Saturday after it became a trending topic on China's Twitter-like social media platform Sina Weibo with more than 90 million views and comments.
Some netizens said the set meal was a clear case of false advertising given its unfounded anti-radiation functions. Others criticized the restaurant for taking advantage of consumer anxiety over the Japanese wastewater dumping plan.
The "anti-radiation" meal, which exaggerated the functions of food and created misleading claims, is false commercial advertising prohibited by China's Anti-Unfair Competition Law, Fu Jian, the director of Henan Zejin Law Firm, told several media outlets.
Fu said that once proven to be false advertising, the responsible parties involved could face legal consequences, including compensating consumers for their losses and paying fines, among other penalties.
Starting from Thursday, China banned the import of aquatic products from Japan in order to prevent any nuclear-contaminated food from entering China. Many Japanese restaurants in China including Sushiro, Yoshinoya, Kinsho Sushi, DaiYuu Sushi said they will replace ingredients imported from Japan with those from other countries and regions.
According to the Shanghai Fisheries Industry Association, bluefin tuna and sea urchin are the most popular and highest-selling Japanese imported ingredients on Chinese dining tables, which are commonly featured in mid-to-high-end Japanese restaurants.
Fresh produce markets RT-Mart and Fresh Hema told media that the primary seafood products they offer are salmon and tuna. Currently, salmon is mainly imported from Norway and Chile, while imports of bluefin tuna from Japan has been suspended two months ago due to safety concerns.
Though science and art are vastly different disciplines, one can shed light on the other. That connection is on display in a recolorized version (above) of Vincent van Gogh’s The Bedroom.
The colors in the original work, a version painted in 1889, have faded over time. For an exhibit on display through May 10 at the Art Institute of Chicago, conservation scientist Francesca Casadio and colleagues conducted a number of tests to reveal the pigments van Gogh used.
A macro X-ray fluorescence scanner gave scientists a broad picture of the elements and minerals in the paint. A technique called surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy — which uses laser light to make molecules vibrate in a way that betrays their identity — gave clues to other pigments in the paint. Finally, a microscopic sample taken from the painting (right) was especially revealing: The underside divulged the original purple color of the walls.
Casadio and colleagues then worked with a color theorist to simulate van Gogh’s paints, and with conservators and curators to create a digital version of the original painting that brings back “the emotional landscape of van Gogh,” Casadio says. “It’s a visualization that is not arbitrary; it’s informed by the science. But there’s still a process where you have to have the interpretive eye of those who know the artist.” The recolorization is on display through May 10 at the Art Institute of Chicago in an exhibit that for the first time brings together the three versions of The Bedroom that van Gogh painted in 1888 and 1889.
Before and after The original version of “The Bedroom” (left) has faded over time. The recolorized version (right) returns the pale violet hue of the walls and the redness in the floor tiles.
For the last four decades, Koko, the world’s most famous gorilla, has lived in a trailer in Silicon Valley, the subject of the longest-running project on ape sign language. With a reported vocabulary of hundreds of signs, Koko has appeared to express feelings almost anyone can relate to — a love of kittens, a desire to be a mother.
A new PBS documentary argues that Koko’s remarkable life “challenges what it is that makes humans unique.” The problem, though, is that the film never really makes clear what “it” is. Rather than diving into the question of ape language and dissecting Koko’s abilities, Koko — The Gorilla Who Talks focuses more on the relationship between Koko and researcher Penny Patterson. Patterson began working with Koko in 1972 while a Ph.D. student at Stanford University, with the aim of conducting the first sign language experiment with a gorilla. Koko was an infant, living at the San Francisco Zoo. By 1977, Patterson had negotiated to take ownership of Koko.
After completing her Ph.D., Patterson drifted away from mainstream science, and her relationship with Koko seems to have morphed from researcher and study subject to mother and child. Patterson appears deeply attached to Koko, and she seems to genuinely believe Koko is communicating her thoughts and feelings. Skeptics interpret Koko’s behavior differently. Columbia University psychologist Herbert Terrace, who appears in the film, has conducted his own research on primate communication and intelligence. He suggests Koko is largely mimicking Patterson to receive rewards. Patterson, he argues, has failed to produce any data that prove otherwise. The reality is probably somewhere in between these extremes. It’s difficult for anyone to really know what’s going on inside an animal’s head, but the idea of conversing with animals is deeply appealing. In the end, the film may reveal more about human behavior — our infinite capacity for empathy (SN Online: 6/29/16) and our yearning to bond with others — than it does about the capabilities of Koko or any of our other ape cousins.
Wolves are having something of an identity crisis. Gray wolves and coyotes might be the only pure wild canine species in North America, a new genetic analysis suggests. Other wolves — like red wolves and eastern wolves — appear to be blends of gray wolf and coyote ancestry instead of their own distinct lineages.
Red wolves contain about 75 percent coyote genes and 25 percent wolf genes, an international team of scientists reports online July 27 in Science Advances. Eastern wolves have about 25 to 50 percent coyote ancestry. That finding adds another twist to the ongoing battle over wolf protection and regulation in the United States: how to protect a population that’s not its own species but carries valuable genetic information.
Gray wolves used to roam much of North America — until they were hunted to near-extinction. Protection under the Endangered Species Act has helped them to rebound, but their current range is still far smaller than it used to be. Red wolves, found in the southeastern United States, and eastern wolves, found in the Great Lakes region, look similar to gray wolves but are often treated as distinct species. The two groups occupy territory where gray wolves are now scarcer (in the Great Lakes area) or completely gone (in the southeast).
The new study examined the entire genetic makeup, or genome, of 23 wild canines from around North America. The researchers compared the mixed genomes to those from pure coyotes and Eurasian wolves to figure out what percent of each animal’s genetic material came from the wolf and what part came from the coyote.
Red and eastern wolves have historically mated with coyotes, the team found. But gray wolves have recent coyote ancestry too, and neither eastern wolves nor red wolves differ genetically from gray wolves any more than from other individuals of their species. That suggests that these different groups of wolves are more evolutionarily intertwined than previously believed, says Robert Wayne, a biologist at UCLA who coauthored the study
Red wolves and eastern wolves probably arose when gray wolf populations in the eastern United States were hunted by early settlers, says Doug Smith, a biologist who leads the Wolf Restoration Program in Yellowstone National Park. That created room for coyotes to move east, where the struggling wolves bred with them. Mixing genes with coyotes probably helped wolves survive in lean times. While their coyote genes make red wolves and eastern wolves look slightly different from gray wolves, “we don’t find anything incredibly unique in the red wolf that you can’t find in other canines,” says Bridgett vonHoldt, a biologist at Princeton University who worked with Wayne and collaborators. But they’re still important to protect, because “the wolf part of their genome might actually represent the last of the southeastern gray wolf.” It’s a similar story for the eastern wolf.
Blended species like these are hard to label, Smith says, because traditional species definitions assume clear boundaries that prevent gene sharing.
“Nothing isolates a wolf,” says Smith. “They’re just so capable of moving around.”
Right now, wolves in the United States are managed through a patchwork of federal and state regulations. Red wolves are federally listed as endangered; gray wolves are listed as endangered in some parts of the country, including in the upper Midwest. Genetic mixing makes designing appropriate regulations even more challenging.
“These animals don’t walk around with little name tags on them in the field,” says vonHoldt. “So hybrids or admixed animals don’t always look very different from a pure coyote or pure wolf.”
The only way to ensure that wolf genes stick around in certain areas would be to prohibit killing of both wolves and coyotes, vonHoldt says. But such a restriction would be nearly impossible to implement.
This study is an important step, but its conclusions aren’t definitive, says Paul Wilson, a biologist at Trent University in Ontario, Canada. His work still supports the idea that the eastern wolf is its own species. Comparison with DNA from ancient North American canids — before wolves and coyotes interbred at all — could help further clarify the debate, he says.
