Controversy erupted as tourists overfed a wild wolf turning it into a viral sensation in southwest China.

Video filmed in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province on September 25 shows motorists throwing food to feed a wolf.

According to reports, a video showing the wild wolf has dramatically transformed after being constantly fed by passing tourists and drivers. went viral recently.

Chinese netizens recognised that the wolf had once separated from the pack because it was too old, but since tourists on this road have fed it, it has quickly learned to rely on the road to survive.

The chubby wild wolf, now dubbed the "internet sensation wolf," has become an instant hit, generating widespread interest and debate among netizens.

Red Star News reporters noticed that the Deputy Director of Xining Wildlife Park and Qinghai Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Center, Mr. Qi Xinzhang, weighed in on the issue. He expressed concern about the habit of feeding wild animals, saying, "I am willing to believe in the good intentions of those feeding the wolf, but kindness needs to be backed by rationality. Otherwise, well-intended actions can lead to unintended harm."

Conservationists and wildlife experts are concerned that such human interference can disrupt the natural habits and behaviours of wild animals, potentially making them dependent on humans or making them vulnerable to other threats.

As controversy surrounds the overweight wild wolf that's being fed by tourists, the online community is buzzing with differing views. One concerned netizen echoed expert opinions stating, "I hope everyone can adhere to the regulations of the protected area and refrain from feeding wild animals on their own. Only by doing so can we better protect wildlife."

Yet, offering a contrasting perspective, another user remarked, "If it were a normal wolf, of course, I wouldn't support feeding it. But this is an old wolf that has been driven out of its pack. If we don't feed it, it might starve to death. There's no need to worry about this affecting its ability to survive independently because it doesn't have much of that ability left to begin with."

The video was provided by local media with permission.

On September 25, 2023, in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, a heartwarming video captured an amazingly well-behaved lone wolf accepting food thrown by tourists on the side of a road in Hoh Xil.

Some Chinese netizens recognised that the wolf had once separated from the pack because it was too old, but since tourists on this road have fed it, it has quickly learned to rely on the road for survival.

Now the wolf has become an internet star, with tourists even coming to the road specifically to throw food to it. The wolf has gained significant weight as a result of the enthusiastic feeding and has even learnt to wag its tail and roll around to please passers-by.

Chinese netizens were shocked to say it was like seeing the process of how wolves evolved into dogs.