Claims that 'wolf' held over attacks is pet husky

A "WOLF" captured following attacks on villagers in eastern Shandong Province is in fact a pet husky, according to a man who claims to be its owner.

The animal has been kept in a zoo since its capture last Friday, Beijing Evening News reported yesterday.　

It was suspected of involvement in the attacks in a village in Tengzhou City, in which it was reported that two villagers were killed and five injured.

Local Police started a hunt and shot dead a gray wolf afterwards.

Zoo officials uploaded a photograph of the captured animal and announced that they had identified it as a five-year-old female wolf.

But on seeing the photograph, a Tengzhou resident came forward to claim it was not a wolf, but his pet husky.

The resident, surnamed Wang, uploaded photographs of his dog - named Lady - which he said ran away from its home on Friday, to compare with that of the "wolf".

Many web users who viewed the Weibo.com microblog said the animal in the zoo's and Wang's pictures seemed identical.

Wang went to the zoo and asked officials to return the animal to him. But officials with the city's forestry bureau say DNA identification should be carried out first.

Animal expert Ma Jinsheng visited the zoo yesterday and identified the animal as a pet dog. He said it had the features of a dog and appeared tame.

"The animal doesn't fear humans and was very friendly while being fed," said Ma.

Wolves are found in many of China's provinces.