‘兽群’ literally combines 兽 (shòu), meaning 'beast' or 'wild animal', and 群 (qún), meaning 'group' or 'flock'. Together, it refers specifically to a naturally occurring group of wild animals—especially large mammals like deer, elephants, or wolves—that move or live together. Unlike generic terms for animal groups (e.g., 群), 兽群 carries an implicit sense of wilderness, untamed behavior, and ecological context; it’s rarely used for domesticated animals or birds.

This term appears frequently in nature documentaries, wildlife writing, and ecological reports. It evokes imagery of movement across open landscapes—migrating herds, grazing on plains, or fleeing predators. While grammatically similar to other collective nouns ending in 群 (e.g., 鱼群, 鸟群), 兽群 is semantically restricted to terrestrial, non-domesticated mammals and occasionally large reptiles or carnivores. It is neutral in register but leans formal or literary; you won’t hear it in casual daily speech about pets or farm animals.