The 19 animals were set upon as they fed on grass and alfalfa hay in an attack "extremely rare in that severity".
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| The predators didn't even bother to eat the 19 elk |
A wolf pack in the US state of Wyoming has slaughtered an entire herd of elk, in what stunned wildlife officials suspect was a case of "sport killing".
The predators did not even bother to eat the 19 elk they killed on Tuesday night near the western town of Bondurant, just south of Jackson.
The 17 calves and two cows were set upon as they fed on grass and alfalfa hay left out by wildlife officials to help them survive the winter.
John Lund, of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, said there is "significant concern" at the scale of the attack and because wolves usually eat what they kill.
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| There are an estimated 330 wolves in Wyoming. Pic: File |
"It's extremely rare in that severity," said Mr Lund.
He said the pack suspected of the slaughter has nine wolves.
"It appears to be sport killing," he told CNN.
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| A wolf rolls in snow after killing and eating an elk in Yellowstone in 2011 |
Mr Lund said about 7% of the local elk population, estimated at around 1,100, has been lost to wolves this winter.
He added there have been no reports of wolves attacking humans.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department can do little to prevent such kills because wolves are a protected animal.
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| Elk are the most common food source for wolves in Wyoming |
Once nearly extinct, the animals were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in the mid-1990s.
There are estimated to be about 330 wolves in Wyoming.
Wyoming's wolves benefit from a federally guaranteed endangered species status, which means they can't be hunted.
Environmental groups say that if control was passed over to the state, Wyoming would allow wolves to be shot on sight.
Wolves have remained off the endangered species list in Montana and Idaho since 2011.
Source: here