Fresh snowfall in the Tianshan Mountains revealed a rare sight in Xinjiang's Tomur Nature Reserve: a pack of wolves moving together through a mountain valley. Among them were two striking black wolves, a seldom-seen color variation. Conservationists say the stable presence of a wolf pack is no coincidence. In recent years, the reserve has strengthened ecological protection, improving habitats and allowing wildlife populations to recover. As apex predators, wolves return only when prey species and the broader ecosystem are thriving – clear evidence that Tomur's conservation efforts are paying off.