In the remote and sprawling wilderness of Russia’s Far East, a rare and thrilling sign of life has emerged. In the South Kamchatka Federal Sanctuary, a protected territory renowned for its dramatic volcanic landscapes and dense population of brown bears, the elusive polar wolf has made its presence known, leaving tantalizing clues for conservationists and tourists alike.
Recently, government inspectors and hikers trekking along the popular “Mysteries of the Khakytsyn” trail near the iconic Kurile Lake discovered fresh paw prints belonging to the phantom-like predator. The tracks were spotted near the mouth of the Khakytsyn River, a critical salmon spawning ground, suggesting the wolves are shadowing the region’s famous sockeye salmon run to scavenge on fish after they have spawned.
These tracks are not an isolated discovery. The sightings confirm a pattern of activity captured earlier this year by remote camera traps. In February, a lone wolf was filmed on a nocturnal patrol near a stream on the opposite side of Kurile Lake. More recently, on July 29, another camera positioned along a route used by tourists to observe bear fishing in Severnaya Bay captured a clear image of a young wolf moving through the territory.
While the polar, or tundra, wolf is a listed inhabitant of the South Kamchatka Sanctuary, direct encounters or even clear signs of their presence are exceptionally rare. For the staff of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, which manages the sanctuary, these collective pieces of evidence are invaluable. They offer a rare glimpse into the lives of one of Kamchatka’s most secretive animals and serve as a powerful indicator of the health and completeness of this vast, untamed ecosystem.