The Epic Mystery of the Japanese Wolf--Are There Wolves in Japan?
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- Опубліковано 25 лют 2023
- The wolf inspired fear, but it was also considered heroic. I like the woods because magic and mysticism runs seamlessly with science and nature. Survival and struggle are the laws of the lawless night.
The Japanese Wolf, or Honshu Wolf, is not your ordinary wolf. It was (or is) the last surviving member of the Pleistocene wolves, a lineage that was believed to have gone extinct with the dire wolf, some eight thousand years ago. It is maintained that the Honshu Wolf went extinct in 1905, but some disagree. Eyewitnesses and compelling photographs make a strong case for the Honshu Wolf.
And though the Honshu Wolf is indeed a real life cryptid, it is much more than that.
The saga of the Honshu wolf is symbolic of the struggle for balance between the needs of mankind, and the nature's citizens. The struggle between the old way and the new way, the old versus the new. Order V chaos, and the silent sorrow that can accompany an access of order.
Perhaps the wilderness should remain wild.
I was kind of flexing some ideas I've had forever about a different style for presenting the illustrations. It was fascinating watching Fred's illustrations come to life like never before.
This video is kind of special to me, be nice to it.
Sources:
www.jstor.org/stable/1178791?...
www.bbc.com/future/article/20...
features.japantimes.co.jp/2-s...
www.scientificamerican.com/ar...
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...
Osaka Wolf Statue Photo Attribution:
User: Gohachiyasu1214
No changes were made.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... - Розваги
I’ve been a paleo artist for a long time and I’ve drawn many interpretations of Direwolves based on their skeletal structure and general genetic lineages, seeing the Honshu wolf literally sent chills down my spine it’s like seeing a drawing come to life.
So do u agree that dire wolves are typically bigger than greys? I think Bob has it wrong there
@@jwconstruction9065 dire wolves are but the Honshu wolf specifically is a smaller dire wolf
@@jwconstruction9065 and even the bigger North American dire wolves aren’t drastically bigger than grey wolves, aren’t they just heavier?
@@jwconstruction9065 depends by bigger. Height wise no I would argue Greys could be taller than Dire wolves especially at higher elevations like Canada and Alaska as Dire wolves are more frequently populated primarily to the lower 48. But dires would have been stockier and more than likely heavier which is how scientists calculate size. So for example a Elephant is bigger than a giraffe cause it’s mass it bigger the giraffe might be taller but the elephant is overall larger that’s basically what happens with the Grey and Dire wolf
I would be interested in seeing some of those drawings, is there a site or FB page where they are featured?
This was a most nostalgic episode for me. I was born and raised in Japan until age 7 when my father, an American, was transferred to Hawai'i. My mother was born and raised in very rural, and mountainous Tochigi Prefecture. She had many tales of growing up in pre-WWII Japan. I went to visit where she lived when I was around 5 years old, and most of the homes including her's was gone, washed away in a flash flood. One thing I'll never forget was thousands of red dragonflies in the air. Everywhere you looked, there they were, an amazing sight to behold. The intro/outro song you chose is an old Japanese folk song my mother used to sing to me about the red dragonflies flying in red skies before sunset. I believe itʻs called "Yūyake no Aka Tombo". I have not returned there for almost 60 years. Thank you for the great episode.
The description of the song said “red dragon.” I like it more now knowing it’s red dragonflies. Thank you for you knowledge.
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful memory with us.
This is beautiful.
I lived in Japan, just outside of Tokyo, on a military base fifty years ago (Early 1970s). The BSA was very active and we camped a lot in the forest way up in the mountains north of Tokyo at the last train stop. Some form of canine used to love raiding our food stores. Paw prints told us it was too big to be a fox, but smaller than a GSD.
The locals said there was nothing up there. Well, _nothing_ surely liked bacon and fresh fish.
Sorry bro, I was hungry... I'm just joking but I do believe in animals that aren't discovered. There are stories of spiders that are 3 feet long in Vietnam. We don't know what's out there
Idk why but while reading that my mind perfectly translated good sized dog like I had seen it abbreviated that way 100 times
Tatanuki-Raccoon dog? Or Japanese Badger?
@@theblindbandit6533 I read it as German Shepherd Dog, which...is a pretty good sized dog.
@@kiradeki3561 Me too! Is that not what he meant?
In Switzerland we recently discovered a fish species in a lake that we believed extinct for a few decades. Turns out they only moved into some deeper water. If some fish manage to hide for a few decades in a lake, then so could possibly some wolves on an island the size of Japan.
Scientist seem to like declaring extinction early, similar happened with the Ground parrot in Australia.
@@raclark2730 the ivory billed woodpecker in Florida as well
Scientist would rather have an animal classified as endangered or threatened simply because the government tends to put in more effort protecting that species, the minute that animal is re-classified as being common, the government stops caring. For example, when the Trump admin revoked federal protection fo the grey wolf, allowing it be hunted.
Or you have governments that just don't give a squat, where the Trump admin, again, allowed for the hunting of the critically endangered red wolf.
@@bebos1262 talking about extinct status being called to early, there is no funding for extinct. But hey why miss an opportunity to moan about a former president right.
@@raclark2730 as an American and conservationist I can confirm the previous administration was detrimental to our national parks flora and fauna
I know this probably took you forever, but PLEASE make more videos like this if and whenever you can. And I’m not even talking so much about the added sound effects: a different sort of flow to the video was apparent, as well as a sense of levity and almost whimsical nature. It was great, melancholy, and hopeful. Keep up the good work!!❤
The intro set the mood well.
This video reminded me of Thylacine. An animal we know for a fact existed and believe to went extinct almost a hundred years ago. Every now and then you hear about sightings of them but there is no solid evidence.
I really appreciated learning about these wolves. Thank you very much for your hard work!
There is a guy that searches for thought to be extinct wildlife. He (I do not remember his name or title of show) went to Tasmania to attempt to find Thylacine with technical equipment. He did manage to obtain some footage of a live animal. He did have a series a while back.
Forrest Galante, Extinct or Alive
I was just about to post about the Tasmanian Tiger when I saw your comment about the Thylacine and thought it sounded familiar.
😉👍
Similar thoughts here too.
One month later, there's a paper confirming the existence of the thylacine until the 1980s 😅
Hi, I lived in Saitama a few years back. Mitsumine Shrine is a bit off the beaten path but it is in part devoted to this species of wolf. There is something to be said about how the shrine is still upkept and the wolf still revered.
Apparently in the Edo Period, the shrine was pretty popular a location to pray for safety against fire and theft. The fact people made pilgrimages there in that era is wild as it’s quite out of the way even today.
Did you ever go on the Nakasendo Trail?
Never thought we’d get photos this clear and still be wondering what it is and if it’s out there
I love how you talk about animals. You make them sound so cool. The guardian wolves was a very wholesome legend, my favorite kind. "Stay inside at night or the wolves will get you" no, "you made it home safe, remember to thank your wolf guide." soo much cooler. And that bit about wolves being political - goose bumps man.
“Wayguard Wolf” as a scientific name is one of the coolest I’ve heard in a long while.
What a sad tale. Beautiful work as always Bob.
Ending killed me. After all that, the fiddle and howls drove a stake thru my heart.
@@Acubens. we howl with them.
Whenever Bob uploads it’s literally the same feeling as seeing an old friend again. Thanks for the years of cryptozoology and intuitive speculation Bob, here’s to another great video! 🐺
Gas
@@gorgoroth9876 you look like the Q shaman 😂
@@pinchevulpes I've been told that 😂
I’d really like to see a series on this, covering the possibility of certain extinct animals and sightings of them. It’s always interesting to hear about animals we know existed that are reported after being allegedly wiped out. They give hope to species that were unfortunately and unfairly exterminated in more recent times. This was a very interesting video alongside very incredible photos, again I’d love to see you doing something like it again. Side note on topics of animals, I’d really love to see another video on maneaters of history. Those videos of yours are always so fascinating, your narration is really suited to it. If I may suggest one, the beast of gevaudan is a famous but incredibly interesting story that seems like something that you’d cover very well.
The Tasmanian Tiger is another great example or the Eastern Puma he could do the short faced bear but it’s most likely the people who see monster bears are seeing Kodiak.
Me too I would LOVEEEE this. That photo used in this is really good proof.
Tasmanian Tiger would be good, Mexican Grizzly Bear would be a great one I'm actually planning to search for those.
@@11bluekitkats the Kodiak is a monster in and of itself. I wouldn’t blame people for over estimating their size and strength they are predatory tanks.
There's a show called Extinct or Alive where a biologist actually goes out and tries to find evidence of extinct species.
He finds quite a bit of evidence at times, and even has captured one.
Would recommend you check it out!
Around 45 years ago, I was living in western Oklahoma with my toddler-aged children, we lived in a house that was almost 20 miles from the nearest gas station, even further to the nearest town. Lines of storms were moving through, but I needed some groceries so next break in the rain, I struck out in my small pickup. Slid in the mud, got stuck in the bar-ditch with the rear-end in the ditch, front-end still on the road. LOL, could still see the lights in my living-room windows from where I was stuck. Anyway, during a long-lived flash of lightning, I saw a wolf standing near the fence-line not 10 feet from my pickup bed. Next lightning flash, he had moved a little closer, and I got a pretty good look at him. Definitely not a domestic dog. Trouble is, our Fish & Game tell us that wolves were hunted extinct almost 100 years ago, we're not supposed to have them anymore. Was told the same thing about mountain lions, yet over the years I've spotted two of them. So I can believe that even on an island, the possibility remains that a small population may have survived. Good to hear from you again, Bob!
What a beautiful creature. It's like a non-scary, cuter, mini-wolf. Sweet face for a wolf (not that wolves aren't gorgeous). I love how it fearlessly connected with the man, and even posed some. I think we'll find out in the coming years that we can connect with animals in ways we never dreamed. We're learning so much, so quickly, about consciousness. If we can avoid destruction through war and killing the biosphere, I think we're in for a big century of enlightenment my friends.
I pray you are right,
At times I feel the same way.
Other times I think the future will be a real horror show if we don't change things for the better very quickly.
@@CordellPotts It's already at horror-show level for most of the world, who don't even have running water, air conditioning, or a proper way to cook their food. It's turning into a horror show here in the 1st world and if we don't find a way to share our vast wealth with the 3rd world, we're going to pay a steep price. We have to back off this Russia stuff, too. That's not a fight we can handle.
It does feel like the good is also bubbling up to the top, though. I'm seeing it more and more each day.... people waking up.
Just got out of prison and there's two Bob's videos waiting, could life get any better! Thank you Bob for making my first steps outside a bit easier and more entertaining! 💛
Easily one of the best Bob Gymlan videos of all time.
I love everything about this channel.
Same, especialially the stories about real animals like the lions of Tsavo
@@mycklaflonscamping1398 are you implying Bigfoot isn’t “real”?
Get ‘em boys.
Bob, you speak out often what I think. It wouldn't be the first time an animal hide "in plain sight".
Let me tell you a true story. Some years ago, the European wildcat was extinct in north-east Germany. At least they said so. When my own found kitten moved in, I noted some difference to other house cats in look and behavior and I also noted that we have a remarkable amount of cats around of that "breed" (looking similar) but every source I found and even wildlife people told me that is just a Coincidence (to some amounts true since our house cats have an ancient admixture of wildcats. ) However, I had the feeling we might have real wildcats here in a small population. I was right. One or two years ago, they announced that they have evidence of wildcats in my area.
I have no Idea about Japanese wolves, but our wolves cover a huge region with just one pack, wandering around. They don't stick at one place. So maybe he is looking on the wrong place. They are shy and very smart, not to be seen.
(same I would assume in BF btw)
Academia is a huge racket
What are the wildcats like? How are they different from domestic cats?
@@2degucitas Depends on the location, every continent has different wildcats. I think there are several in Europe. Usually just one colour, dark grey/brown, slightly bigger than domestic cats. Lynx is way bigger, still lives in couple of countries in Europe, where they are protected.
@@yourt00bz 100%, there are massive financial & political incentives to maintaining the status quo & pushing a specific narrative.
@@2degucitas they are Stock, very shy broader tails striped but kinda diffrent weaker. Thicker underfur bigger paws.
Bob Gymlan wearing Japanese attire hit me like a truck, I’m loving the content man, keep it up there’s tons of mysteries out there that need your brand of exploration.
I was literally looking for a katana on his waist in the thumbnail 😂 🥷
“ scaled (maybe correctly) “
😂🤩🤗
I love the “tried to be right; could be wrong” approach and wish to see it more in the world! ❤❤❤
Holy sh*t it’s the Coelacanth all over again. The pictures actually caught me off guard. Wow I thought it would be a vague blurry picture but no. The Honshu Wolf lives wow.
Then again it could be a mix breed dog that coincidentally happens to look like (have traits that resemble) the Honshu wolfs. Would explain the docile behavior too.
Is it docile behavior or confident behavior?
Very different subject, but I enjoyed it never the less. I do love the specialized intro though :) I lived in both Misawa Japan and Okinawa (military family), so I am familiar with a lot of Japanese lore, stories, and real life histories that the Japanese have with large predator animals like wolves, bears, and so forth. There is such a reverence there for the animals; it's a bit inspiring to be honest. Your video really really touches upon themes of the new vs old that Japan seems to be in conflict nowadays with how tech-based the youth can be...while trying to still maintain a grasp on the history and older ways of their parents and grandparents.
Very well done video as always sir! :)
They have so much "reverance" for the wolves that they killed every one of them?
@@madisona3907 from what I can tell, the reverence wore off once rabies spread to Japan and the wolves became more feral and deadly.
My cat never reacts to videos, but the opening and closing music in this one made her get super excited. She was even pawing at and snuggling my phone and purring while it was playing... I have no idea why, but she liked something about it, even with the howls in the background. If anyone else's cat does the same, I'd be interested to hear about it. 😸
Anyway, thanks for the video, Bob! I always look forward to your uploads, and this one definitely didn't disappoint. 💜
I have been replaying that music non stop since I watched the video and she's acting like she's on cat nip or something. I put my phone down while its playing and she rolls all over it purring and batting her paws in the air. She's a twelve year old cat who doesn't play much anymore. I'm so happy she was sitting with me when I watched this! It's just so freaking cute! 😂
@@colleenriordan9734tell her I love her and that she’s a good person.
@@BobGymlan I'll let her know. I'm not sure you'll get a response from her though... 😂
@@johnhenry4844 wrong thread mate, just to let you know 👍
Imho my cats only reacted to the howling, they had no reaction to the beginning of the video.
Now this is a nice change of pace! People forget that there's more to cryptozoology than wood apes and lake serpents, and its nice to see a video that covers the potential reemergence of a notoriously crafty species.
Bob, your storytelling prowess is honestly quite unique
It's not only that you told the story factually but you actually made me feel for these poor animals that no longer roam this earth
Your videos are on the top of my list , keep up the great work
“When the new meets old it always ends the ancient ways” true with both the wolves and the samurai beautiful episode bob can’t all be about Bigfoot right
Bob I'd highly suggest you look into the mystery of the Mexican Grizzly Bear, they went extinct some 60 years ago yet sightings persist in the mountains of Mexico. It would actually make sense as much of that land is privately owned so it's not properly surveyed. It's just scathes of wilderness untouched by man. These bears are silver in color and the same species as California or Arizona grizzlies were. We'd love a video on it.
Those bears are still up in the high mountains just gotten real good at avoiding people
@@RebelSandGaming You know people who have seen them?
@@geechyguy3441 yea I do hell I've even seen em they're big animals
@@RebelSandGaming I'm very curious to gather more information on them, Im planning an expedition into the mountains to search the deepest corners for these creatures. Any info would help out greatly.
On my reservation in Eastern Arizona is where one of the last grizzlies was killed in the 30s. But people say there's more living deep in the mountains
As always this is a well thought out and rational take on an animal that was thought to be extinct. I swear Bob runs the only cryptid channel that doesn't fly off the handle with crazy theories and wild assumptions. It really is a breath of fresh air.
Stories like this of the Honshu wolf and the thylacine make me wonder if these animals are capable of putting out something like a Twilight bark i.e. communicating with each other to let each other know they need to go to ground. The possible Resurgence of the thylacine made me wonder if they could communicate long term ideas to each other and perhaps even over generations to know that they need to hide
Yep
We all need an escort wolf in this life.
I’m pulling for the Japanese wolf to still be out there.
Nowadays, the phrase "Escort Wolf/Okuri-ohkami/送り狼" has a different meaning - the male predators who pretend to take women home with other intentions.
@@atsukorichards1675oof. Sucks to see a phrase connotation change for the worse.
Perfect! 12.10am Perth Western Australia. Thanks Bob. No sleep tonight.
A tad past 8am here in the Pacific Northwest (us) and now no gong back to sleep for me haha. Though, this is one of my go to channels to watch videos I've already seen before, when I'm having trouble sleeping.. comfort factor, I guess...puts me right to sleep... couldn't possibly fall asleep during a new video, though.
Bob, you seem to be UA-cam's very own cryptid.
2 days before you post, your videos show up in my recommends, and then *poof* gone.
Or is the mystery in YT's algorithms?
Either way it's always great to see you and know you are still out there seeking truth. Thank you.
Another Japanese cryptid you could look into is the larger Iriomote cat. Iriomote island has a endemic cat species, the size of a house cat, which is very well known. But the interesting part is that there are many reports of a larger wildcat, described as a clouded leopard, on the very same island! This has been sighted by fishermen, but officially it doesn't exist.
I didn't expected a video about the wolves but i will say it is impressive how in depth you go into the topic.
If there are still any wolves on Japan it would be interesting to see how they adapted to avoid humans.
Such an interesting subject..great work as always bob!
Another fantastic video Bob! I've found the topic of the Japanese wolf/Honshu wolf incredibly intriguing since I saw the photos a few years ago. It's not often you get such clear photos of cryptids like this. I'm not qualified enough to say what the animal is, but as you say there is some animal there.
Also, I lived in Japan for a few years in central Honshu where they have black bears. I went on many night and early morning drives in areas where there had been recent sightings looking for them. I even went for walks and hikes in areas where they were known to inhabit and in three years I never saw one. There are definitely bears there, but I never saw any.
Anyway thanks for another great video man!
I have to admit I am a bit jealous you had the opportunity to do that!!!!
Same that sounds soo cool like a story out of a book very jealous
There are hundreds of YT channels similar to this but nothing compares to a Bob Gymlan story or documentary. The best of the best.
I have listen to your entire channel at work this week, you have a depth in your videos that makes the watching a breeze, I’ve been a fan for years keep up the fantastic work
I have to be completely honest Bob, you're the only person that I ever get excited for their uploads and when I see one of your videos especially one that I somehow missed it makes me even more excited
I always wish your shows were longer .
That's how good they are . This one did not disappoint . Much Respect and Blessings to you and your family .🤠🖖
These videos are the best argument you make, the one about the gorilla is one I show your channel to my friends through!
For decades here in Arkansas the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission had maintained that the North American Cougar was extinct in the state.
Despite it being seen and heard by many rural residents. I believe that doing so might have been a type of unofficial protection of the animal.
Maybe this wolf is under similar "protection"?
Lol everyone in the South that I've talked to swear the Mountain lion/cougar/black panther exist. Even though the official Fish and Game narrative had always been "They don't exist."
With the exception of the Florida Panther.
....but I kind of think...they might exist.
Animals are quite smart in their own right, especially stealthy cats.
Bob, your videos make me thoroughly entertained and happy. Thank you
This was amazing you and Dunn did such a great job on this one. Loved the illustration/video blend.
Always look forward to your videos dude. Can't wait to listen to this at work today!
Another great vid! Very awesome, love to see your work; your Bigfoot stuff is amazing but it's so cool when you branch out as well!
Thank you so much SSM
This is my favorite channel hands down.
Love all your uploads bob! Keep em’ coming!
Amazing! I was so excited to see this in my alerts! Thank you, Bob!
Another wonderful video, thanks Bob!
Thank you! Awesome editing, artwork, and writing!
You should do a Part 2 to this about wolves in the British Isles, obviously we don’t have them anymore but they were “officially” made extinct in the late 17th century but there were reports of wolves right up until the mid 1800s. It could make for a great video topic like this. It’s just as interesting imo.
What shocks me is how few museum specimens there are of them. Surely there's a scapula or jawbone that can be used for DNA extraction. I've always been curious as to whether or not British/Irish wolves were their own subspecies or just a population of Eurasian wolf.
Last wolf shot 1950 North Yorkshire. Now infested with Dogman
What about the gigantic black cats spotted all over UK?
Several black cats (including documented attacks, such as the boy who was scratched by one) in the UK have been found to be melanistic jaguars or leopards, which were loose exotic pets or escapees from wildlife centres. But with the amount of sightings, it’s doubtful there are THAT many escapees, in Britain, America, or anywhere for that matter. Unless all the centres and private owners are all seriously lacking in tight security. For predatory animals, lol
@@EddyOfTheMaelstrom Probably escapees, and only in the last 200-100 years. It's funny how there are no Saxon/Medieval/Tudor era accounts of them. You'd think they'd be included with wolves and foxes on bounty lists, but they're not.
Loved this video!
It's always really fun when you bring your wit and analysis to unique topics
Gonna be a good day. Thank you, Bobby.
If there's 1 then there's a breeding population somewhere. Another great video and subject Bob.Ive seen thousands of dogs... Never seen one with a muzzle quite like that.
That’s what struck me too.
It looks… blunted.
Like with wolves and coyotes, etc there’s a flowing sharp point, but the Honshu wolf doesn’t seem to have that as much.
Scaling this somewhat friendly boi that let his picture be taken up to Timber wolf size seems frightening to say the least.
Fan-TASTIC video Bob. Your work becomes ever more poetic, more subtly nuanced, layered, and as one of my old philosophy professors was fond of saying, "pregnant with meaning." Your variety of graphics, from hand-drawn illustrations to sophisticated colored electron microscope images are nicely interwoven into the larger narrative. And you leave no stones un-turned, as your energetic and disciplined research into the subject always shows. I can't thank you enough for introducing me to the discoveries you have made and the advanced dialog you have with the ideas you have formulated. Your own observations of countless aspects of the Hidden Worlds have inspired me to widen my own ruminations on these matters. Thank you for both broadening and concentrating my focus as I continue on with my own studies into terrestrial cryptids, the multiple dimensions in which they exist, and through which they traverse.
Really enjoyed this video. Good to see you back Bob. I always look forward to your videos.
Simply, beautifully done, Bob. IMO, your best ever work. Thank you.
Another reason that a wolf will follow someone passing through a wild area is that it only wants to make sure the human doesn't come too close to the pups back home. If that happens, they'll bark to call in help. If one stays on the main path, the chances of coming too close to the den are low.
Thanks for this one Bob. I've always been both curious and interested in the topic.
Great video Bob , thanks for sharing it with us
Wow! Next level video here Bob!!! Amazing production
Absolutely Brilliant. We can't thank you enough for all the hard work and dedication that you have given us.
I hope they still exist. One of the best videos you have done. Thx for sharing.
Despite it being Japan, I did not expect to see samurai brought into the video. Bravo for saying the correct last samurai too! This was an excellent video. The perspective of knowing one was encountered, having over a dozen photos, and yet nearly nothing since then despite the relatively small area, hundreds of people, and decades of attempts really puts a solid stance towards finding cryptids. People often say how many people have cell phones now, but if a specific cryptid exists it is clearly good at hiding and people walking along, talking, making noise in general, are sure to generally spook the cryptid(s) most of the time. I find trap cameras and other stationary, long-running devices a lot more compelling as a search tool.
I always learn something new watching your videos Bob and you also widen my views about things, thank you!
This is nuts, I was just searching for stuff about the Japanese wolf a few days ago right around the time you posted this video! Nice! thank you and keep up the good work.
Yes, a new Bob Gymlan video!! Love your content, I wish we could get more videos more often. But I know you put a lot of work into them so they are worth waiting for~!
Excellent Video Mr. Gymlan... Thank you for posting and producing this..
Bob simply is the best of the best! Thanks for all of your hard work buddy.
I love this video Bob! I study subjects like these and this video is the best surprise! Much respect from Jamaica
This is a great show!! Thank you, Bob!!
Certainly wasn't expecting such a touching video. Great work as always.
Awesome content , never heard of wolves in Japan
There’s footage from a security camera in Turkey, showing a large guard dog howling incessantly just before the huge earthquake hit…. the sound made every hair on my body stand on end.
Thanks Bob. I always find your videos insightful.
I had rolling chills the last 2 minutes of your video; it takes a lot for that to happen to me. I’ve always been fascinated by Japanese culture, specifically before and during the modernization of Japan and am an avid fan of a specific “cryptid”. Thanks for the 24 minutes of solace from my offspring fighting over balloons, though I know it took you and your team many hours to provide me with this respite on a snowy Sunday afternoon. Thank you, good sir.
Love your content, Bob. As someone that considers himself a "skeptic", I have a certain level of hatred for dogmatic skeptics. That is to say the professional skeptic that says they are "critical thinkers" but make active claims of disbelief instead of the true skeptic position - "neutral".
Same... and EXACTLY!! Can't stand die hard skeptics. I find them to be completely insufferable and 99% of the time, completely arrogant condescending a-holes.. there's skepticism and then there's desperately grasping for straws, looking just as desperate to believe your take as the people who think any and every weird experience they have/hear about with a claim is indeed a supernatural/paranormal one, tjust because they want to believe.. Hell, I would say even more insufferable/obnoxious.. at least the hardcore believers aren't condescending arrogant a-holes. "Yes I know he's a huge outdoors man who's seen wolves and other canines dozens upon dozens of times while out in the woods... But he simply mistook a wolf for a upright walking humanoid canine, despite having observed it for a good bit(or whatever) I can't stand it when they come with an explanation that is "based in the real world" better so ask 9 / unlikely that it's more likely to be a legitimate alien / dogman or whatever, than what dumb shit they're saying . "I know you're a veteran pilot and a part time astronomer, but you mistook Venus for a flying saucer that has flashing lights, was 100ft across, and you watched follow you for 20 minutes..." A lot of the time, they might as well just say "i have little respect for you and think you're a f*cking idiot!
Thanks Bob! Always looking forward to your knowledge and insights
Love your channel! Always say that but it’s great work consistently! Thank you sir!
i dont comment often on your videos. but i genuinely enjoyed this one. I learned so much. I never new japan had wolves, let alone the last dire wolves
Your illustrator is truly amazing
Bob, I love it when you teach me something entirely new. This is superlative!
Thank you, Bob! And your artist as well! I love the new look, the evolving style. I always love your stories - the way you think about things and your calming way of speaking.
Hope all is well with you and yours.
Hey Bob, it's nice to see you posting a bit more frequently lately. Keep em coming brother. 🐺
Wake up, see there's a UA-cam notification .. and it's freaking Bob Gymlan!! I wasn't sure about today at first, but it will most certainly be a good day! There's a couple other channels I'll watch immediately after getting the notification.. but this is without a doubt, my absolute favorite on the entire platform, by a wide margin!
Please read my comment sir. I’m t makes me happy that lately it seems like you are getting back to your roots and focusing more on the biological, scientific aspects of these creatures like you did with your initial videos on woods walkers, and how that biology is seen In stories/experiences. I hunt fish and trap, I see ginseng and wild mushrooms I am a woodsmen, and I had 2 experiences before that shook my entire worldview with one of those creatures, and and your videos helped me process and understand something I couldn’t understand, so please keep doing more of those analytical and more scientific videos rather than other things,
You NEVER miss, I am always amazed and filled with wonder in your videos
Absolutely brilliant presentation Bob, thank you.
6:45 I’m glad you mentioned that dire wolves are not actually wolves, people still make that mistake since the discovery is still relatively new. Small correction, when it came to the size dire wolves actually were slightly larger and stockier then the grey wolf. Just like you said, nothing like in Game of Thrones and similar in height, but still heavier and stockier, and dire wolves still on average were slightly taller. On average, they were about 20% heavier then the average grey wolf. Besides convergent evolution, they evolved this way to tackle larger prey in Pleistocene America. Also a small correction at 8:11, competition between the two species actually did last quite long, starting over 1 million years ago and ending just over 10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. It seems the extinction event favored those that were smaller or more varied in diet, as the short faced bear, American lion, smilodon and dire wolf died out while grizzlies, cougars, and grey wolves survived. This also happened with herbivores, as mammoths, mastodons, ground sloths, giant bison, and giant armadillos also vanished at this time while smaller(by comparison)animals survived. Anyways, very good video and I look forward to the next one!
I appreciate the comment, but I respectfully disagree (sort of.) There are plenty of wolves in Alaska and Siberia that have pushed pretty near 200 pounds. Which I'm sure some Dire Wolves did too, but at that point I think you're just splitting hairs. My guess would be a big grey wolf is bigger than an average dire wolf, but yes, dire wolves probably (on average) had five or ten pounds more weight, but I wouldn't consider that significant. Though you are right.
If I see a 150 pound wolf and a 160 pound wolf coming at me, they're both big...
@@BobGymlan Your guess is correct here, as truly exceptional individuals of grey wolves would be larger then the average dire wolf, but on average, and what scientists are concerned about when classifying size, dire wolves were the larger of the two. Most large wolves today clock in at over 140 pounds, while dire wolves averagely were in the range of a 150 to 160. So five pounds really isn’t anything to write home about, but ten to twenty is, and most large grey wolves were the size of just averagely sized dire wolves. And as to be expected, some individuals exceed well past those limits for both species, with the largest grey wolf on record so far weighing 175 pounds! As you said both are large animals and I for one would be terrified regardless which was coming at me. I appreciate that you disagreed(sort of) in a very civil way while acknowledging that my previous statement was correct, I look forward to your next video!
And not all grey wolves are the same in terms of diet. There were two main lineages of grey wolf during the Pleistocene: the megafaunal grey wolf and the normal grey wolf.
Megafaunal grey wolves were almost the same size as the dire wolf (whose closest living relatives are the Lupulella genus canids (black-backed jackal and side-striped jackal)) and mainly hunted horses, bison, young mammoths, and camels. They mainly lived on the mammoth steppe in Asia, the Beringian land bridge, and the more northern parts of North America. Some megafaunal grey wolves like the Mexican wolf and plains wolf (the former of which is still alive today, but it’s Critically Endangered) ranged further south than others. They filled a similar niche to dire wolves and spotted hyenas. They went extinct alongside the dire wolf due to humans wiping out their prey. The reason the Mexican wolf and plains wolf survived is because their large prey (like American bison, elk, and moose) survived.
Normal grey wolves had a relatively wider range than megafaunal grey wolves. All the other remaining subspecies of grey wolf (including the Indian grey wolf, Arabian grey wolf, Arctic wolf, European grey wolf, and northwestern grey wolf) are members of that lineage. They still hunted large prey like deer, wild boars, and occasionally bison, but they also ate smaller things like rabbits, birds, rodents, and even fish. They filled a niche more similar to the painted wolf (also referred to as the African wild dog) and the now extinct Protocyon, hunting medium sized to large hoofed animals, but still having their populations suppressed by larger predators like dire wolves and cave lions. They outlasted dire wolves and almost all megafaunal grey wolves due to their more flexible diet.
@@rl9217 Grey wolf weight is been very underrated. When you see large males near people some clearly have weighs of over 80kg or 180 pounds and
It's stated that the largest wild grey wolf on record had 96kg of weight or 212 pounds.
The 150- 160 pound range estimate for the dire wolf is actually the largest estimate for the biggest specimens while on average it did in fact had "only" 110 pounds.
@@pedroroque829 Apologies for the really late reply but would you mind telling me where you got this information for some of what you said? Particularly the weight of the largest wolf on record and 110 average weight of dire wolves? As I said in my first reply, the most widely accepted average weight for dire wolves are a good 20 to 30 pounds heavier then that. If dire wolves averagely weighed 110 pounds then it would make them on par or lighter then most grey wolves, which we know is not the case. Also in my reply I said the largest wolf on record weighed just over 175 pounds, so I’m curious to as where you got a 212 pound record. Also, the weight of grey wolves in this case is not being underrated. Grey wolves are very large next to people, but just because they are it doesn’t mean they weigh in the 180 pound range. Most large grey wolves that look massive near people weigh considerably less then 180 pounds, more likely in the 130 to 140 pound range.
I just watched one of your old videos and wow, there's a new one 🙂
Bob! Not only was I so super excited and happy to see your post. I was cracking my ass up at the opening! Again you made me smile on a rainy day. Not only is your opening awesome but just the way you deliver and again your angle is awesome. I don't know how anyone could not just adore how you do your thing! You rock!
Anyone else listening in earphones with eyes closed that practically shat themselves when the wolves howled?! Thanks Bob, excellent stuff as per usual
Dear Mr. Gymlan, thank you for creating another incredibly cool video! This may be my favorite one you've ever produced! (Although you've done so much magnificent work that it's impossible to pick just one to call "favorite".) Anyway, just wanted to acknowledge what a fantastic and thoughtful writer, presenter, and creator you are! Blessings to yourself and to your wonderful illustrator! You both completely rock. --N
Wow, thank you!
I had no idea Japan ever had wolves. This was all new information, thanks for posting this!
Great content as usual. I appreciate the hard work I know goes into each episode. Thank you. Keep up the tremendous work. Respect.🙏🏼✊🏼
Best recent episode for us here! Thank you.
Before I clicked I thought it's probably more likely that any wolf sightings are just domestic wolf like breeds but then I saw those pictures, I don't think I've never seen a dog like that before
That was fascinating and sad. Thank you Bob.