ZOUCHENG, Shandong - A wolf-like animal was shot dead in Zoucheng, Shandong province, on March 26, the latest development in a series of local wolf hunts, according to iqilu.com, a news portal run by the Shandong TV station.

However, after the animal was killed, a villager reported he had lost a husky dog he had raised at home, triggering suspicion the killed animal was the lost dog.

A villager named Xu Guangqun working in the fields on March 26 found the animal and called police. Another villager surnamed Wang claimed the animal ran into her yard and killed a chicken.

The animal was shot dead after a three-hour hunt in case the animal might hurt villagers, according to policeman Yang Jinhua.

The dead animal will undergo a DNA test to see if it is a wolf or a husky.

Meanwhile, another wolf-like animal caught on March 23 in Tengzhou, around 80 kilometers from Zoucheng, is alive in Tengzhou Animal Park waiting for a DNA test to see if it is a wolf.

After Tengzhou police caught the animal, which they claimed was a wolf, a resident surnamed Wang claimed the caught animal was not a wolf but a husky he raised.

Judging from its eyes and fur color, Ma Jinsheng, a professor at the animal department of Qilu Normal University, believed the wolf-like animal in Tengzhou is a husky, according to Qilu Evening News.

"If it was a wolf, it would be hostile to humans. So it wouldn't take the sausage without thinking even a second," Ma said when the animal took the sausage he threw into the cage.

Tengzhou police shot dead a wolf on March 19 following seven reported wolf attacks on people in Tengzhou over six days. Two people died in the attacks.

Police have not confirmed whether the dead wolf is the one responsible.

The reporter can be reached at zhaoruixue@chinadaily.com.cn