New specimen of extinct Japanese wolf on display

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The wolf specimen, currently on display as part of a special exhibition called “Mammals 3 – The Parade of Life” at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno in Tokyo, was part of the museum’s collection and was misclassified as the skin of a yamainu, or wild dog.

Komori Hinako, an eighth-grader in Tokyo, worked with experts to conduct research and publish a report in February 2024, concluding that the specimen was likely a Japanese wolf raised at Ueno Zoo more than a century ago.

Komori saw the specimen in 2020 and saw that it resembled the Japanese wolf in the book, so she and experts began researching it.

The museum said the specimen is the fourth example of the extinct animal in Japan, with the other three specimens being one at the same museum, one at the University of Tokyo and one at Wakayama University.

Komori said she was happy to have the specimen on display. The exhibition will run until June 16.