Stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen in hair keratin of suspected man-eating wolves from 1880s.

ABSTRACT: The so-called man-eating wolves of Turku, a pack of three wolves, reportedly killed 22 children in South-Western Finland in 1880-1881. Enormous efforts were carried out to eradicate them. In January 1882 the last remaining wolf was killed. Since then, there has been considerable debate regarding the validity and extent of the man-eating behaviour. This study aims to clarify whether man-eating behaviour can be observed from the remains of these wolves. One of the wolves was mounted in 1882 and is on display at St. Olaf's school in Turku, enabling us to collect hair keratin samples. Additionally, hair keratin was collected from two other suspected man-eaters. We analysed carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) stable isotope values to study the wolf's diet during the last mon

SUBMITTER: Junno JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10902326 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature