Wolves may have become early dogs to get easy food. A recent study suggests they adapted over time for survival. Instead of humans taming them, wolves may have chosen a calmer lifestyle. This natural shift created one of history’s strongest bonds.
Wolves Changed Over Thousands of Years
The study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, states that dogs evolved from grey wolves. This transformation happened in two key periods. The first was between 30,000 and 15,000 years ago. The second phase saw dogs forming breeds due to human selection. During this time, people bred the tamest wolves together.
Researchers believe some wolves stayed near human camps. Over generations, these wolves preferred calmer mates. This process may have led to self-domestication without direct human control.
Study Used Mathematical Models
To test this theory, researchers created mathematical models. These models showed how wolves could turn into dogs over 15,000 years. The study found that natural selection played a key role.
For this to happen, two factors had to align. Wolves needed to stay near humans for food scraps. They also had to choose mates with similar behaviour.
Co-author Alex Capaldi explained the results. “Females had to pick tame males as mates. If both factors aligned, self-domestication became possible,” he told LiveScience.
The study tested various scenarios. In 37 percent of cases, early dogs split from wolves. When scavengers preferred tamer mates, they formed dog-like packs 74 percent of the time.
This research supports the idea that wolves may have become dogs naturally. Their bond with humans may have started as a survival strategy.
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