WolfThe UK Wolf Conservation Trust PrintIssue 52 Summer 2014

The rise of canis lupus in Europe Wolves return to Denmark after two centuries of absence The Iberian wolf African adventure How the work of Grupo Lobo is An unforgettable wolf encounter helping this small, distinct species in Ethiopia ■ NEWS ■ EVENTS ■ RESEARCH ■ MEDIA AND ARTS ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 1 WOLF PRINT Issue 52 Tala and Julia by Veda Kavanagh Editor’s Editor Julia Bohanna Letter Tel: 0118 971 3330 Email: [email protected] Editorial Team Wendy Brooker n May this year, Europe Nikki Davies Pete Haswell was very much a major Cammie Kavanagh Idiscussion point in the field Lynn Kent of human politics. It will of Pete Morgan-Lucas course be on our agenda Tsa Palmer Denise Taylor one way or the other for the foreseeable future. Wolves may not read, vote or elect politicians, but they have made huge inroads into parts of Patrons Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams Europe, particularly in places where they have not be seen for many years. David Clement-Davies Our piece on wolves now populating Denmark (pages 18–19) in particular Cornelia ‘Neil’ Hutt shows an exciting development; we will follow this news at Wolf Print with Desmond Morris Marco Musiani great interest. Technology and human patience – recording lupine noises Michelle Paver – eventually solved a mystery and gave confirmation of a new wolf family The UK Wolf Conservation Trust Directors in Denmark. The feature on wolves (and other wildlife) thriving in the Nigel Bulmer troubled and tragic Chernobyl continues the theme of animal resilence Charles Hicks and determination. Sue Hull Linda Malliff Further afield, it has been encouraging to follow the progress of Tsa Palmer California’s wandering wolf, OR7. Not only has he now a mate, there are cubs on board. It has been a great saga and hopefully will now continue Specialist Advisors Alistair Bath successfully. Garry Marvin As always, it is not all good news in our push forward to present canis Kirsty Peake lupus in a positive light in this slippery world of conservation snakes and Claudio Sillero Denise Taylor ladders. Animal Planet came under fire recently for their absurd portrayal of ‘Man-eating Super Wolves’ for their Monster Week. Understandably, The UK Wolf Conservation Trust is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England & Wales. such a sensationalist approach made a number of people extremely angry. Company No. 3686061. So much so that Animal Planet eventually had to back down under the The opinions expressed in this magazine are not pressure of strong protestations. In fact, they did not show the intended necessarily those of the publishers or The UK Wolf programmes – a great result for those who lobby to maintain reason and Conservation Trust. science in animal documentaries. As friend to the wolf, Marc Berkoff All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner, succinctly said: ‘Blood and lies should not sell.’ in whole or in part, in English or other languages, is prohibited. The work may not be photocopied or otherwise reproduced within the terms of It was sad, too, to see that Farley Mowatt, author of Never Cry Wolf, any licence granted by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd or the died recently. Our tribute to him is on page 19. Publishers Licensing Society Ltd. Our own wolves grow in maturity and character. We hope you enjoy Aims of the UK Wolf Conservation Trust our updates, as well as the incredible pictures of our enrichment · To increase public awareness and knowledge of programme for them, which intends always to offer something new so wild wolves and their place in the ecosystem. that our animals can indulge in problem-solving and to be frank, have fun. · To provide opportunities for ethological and other Tala also allowed me to have a photoshoot with her for my updated editor research that may improve the lives of wolves both in captivity and in the wild. photograph. Nuka was also part of the proceedings but decided that I must · To provide wolf-related education programmes have a very dirty face and proceeded to spend the whole time trying to for young people and adults. clean it for me, which produced some hilarious ‘yuck’ faces from me! He · To raise money to help fund wolf-related is known as a very loving and sweet wolf and it was a privilege to spend conservation projects around the world. time with him and Tala, where Tundra – always the shy girl – hung back Download Wolf Print, including back issues, from to watch it all going on. It was a windy day and so I look windswept, while www.ukwolf.org clear-eyed Tala is composed, calm and staring out boldly at onlookers. Design and artwork produced by Business Pluspoint: I must also welcome Mike Collins, our new Site Manager at the Trust. www.businesspluspoint.co.uk | 01305 457084 Mike introduces himself on page 7. Printed by: Pensord, NP12 2YA, www.pensord.co.uk on FSC paper from sustainable forest sources.

Onwards and upwards! This magazine is fully recyclable. By recycling magazines you can help to reduce waste and add to the millions of tonnes of paper already recycled every year by the UK paper industry. You can recycle paper through your Julia Bohanna home recycling collection scheme or at your local Julia Bohanna recycling centre. Visit www.recyclenow.com and enter Editor your postcode to find your nearest site. Cover picture: Motomo, by Chris Lofty

2 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT 4 8 contents REGULARS 2 Editor’s Letter 20 Making Tracks Book reviews and interviews from Julia Bohanna 25 Wolves of the World Wolf stories from around the world 30 Merchandise New and exclusive wolfy gifts and souvenirs 32 NEWS FROM THE TRUST 4 Enrichment Helping our wolves live a fun-filled and stimulating life 6 Director’s Letter and Trust News With an introduction to Mike Collins, Site Manager 8 Amazing Frogs Frogs breed in the Trust’s ponds… despite the wolves 9 Update on the Trust’s wolves FEATURES 13 Wolves of the Great Bear Rainforest 24 An easy life filled with salmon – or is it? 16 Wolf Watching in Iberia A report by journalist and photographer James Howe 18 Nordic Noir Wolves make a cautious return to Denmark 28 The Ethiopian Wolf: An encounter recalled by Rohit Radwhani 34 Answering the Call of the Wild: Holly Root-Gutteridge’s Wolf Howl Project WHAT’S COMING UP 32 CAPBT and UKWCT seminar: Living with wolfdogs and wolf lookalikes 35 Forthcoming Events at the Trust 30 ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 3 Trust News Enrichment

Photo: Torak, by Eve King

ENRICHMENT PLAYS a huge part in a captive situation or in the wild; it is ● sensory keeping animals content in a captive part of how they survive. In the wild, ● environmental situation and is implemented by all wolves use their intelligence to solve ● social good animal collections, including problems which involve getting a ● feeding the UKWCT. Enrichment is a term decent feed or escaping a possible ● training used to describe objects/situations/ threat. In captivity we can use this ● puzzle/problem-solving activities created to encourage an problem solving capability to keep animal to show a natural behaviour wolves occupied and mentally Most enrichment activities include such as problem solving, climbing, stimulated. elements of more than one of these swimming or social interactions. Enrichment comes in many types of enrichment. Wolves are incredibly intelligent, different forms, usually grouped into Here are some examples of each whether they are in an enclosure, in the following six categories: type being used at the Trust: Sensory Environmental At the UKWCT, we often target the wolves’ sense of smell in our Environmental enrichment is the process of tailoring enrichment activities, as this is the sense that wolves rely on the an animal’s captive enclosure to target its natural most. To stimulate this sense we tend to fill hessian sacks with straw behaviour and allow them to show behaviours such and then add a strong smell to it before tying it back up again. Some as climbing and swimming. At the UKWCT, we took of the scents we have used include old perfumes, essential oils, careful consideration when creating the enclosures citric juices, straw from other wolves’ beds in other enclosures and for the wolves and included everything a wolf straw that our pygmy goats have rolled around in. Once the bag is wants/needs in a natural territory. This ranges from tied up and smelling of the desired scent, we throw them in to the hill top vantage points, tree cover, water sources enclosures. Usually this sensory stimulation also encourages social and suitable den sites through the breeding season. interaction with the wolves showing dominance and submissive The wolves have plenty of space to play, socially positions, whilst investigating the new smell. interact and also show the natural behaviours that have been recorded in the wild, for example climbing high to see what is going on around the Social territory. At the Trust, we understand that wolves are social creatures that do not do well on their own. Grey wolves in the wild are rarely solitary; when they are, it is usually whilst they look for a mate. We don’t keep any wolves alone; each enclosure has at least two wolves in it. This provides for them the company they would naturally have, which allows them to show playing behaviours, hierarchical interactions and breeding behaviours with Mosi and Torak, and also Mai and Motomo. The wolves’ enclosures are sometimes switched around too, which increases the social interaction between groups of wolves. For example: Massak, Sikko and Pukak have all recently been moved next to Mai and Motomo. Motomo has seen this as a brilliant excuse to start running at the two new males next to him to Tala, by Tsa Palmer show them he means business.

4 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT Feeding Wolves like to eat, hence the expression Motomo, and they will readily “wolfing it down” (look at Pukak). If we take food from the hand. This has fed our wolves at the same time, using the added advantage of hand the same method each day, they would feeding medication when needed. soon start to expect it and show We lay scent trails with their stereotypical behaviours (behaviours food; this involves dragging food associated with stress in a captive around the enclosure, whilst the Pukak trying to eat a bubble, by Mike Collins environment), such as pacing and fur wolves are in their holding pens, then them in the enclosures. This kind of pulling. To get around this at the Trust, letting them out to find their food, using enrichment encourages the wolves to we sometimes carcass feed, which their sense of smell (also sensory use all of their teeth, paws and intellect involves depositing a large carcass in an enrichment). Occasionally we will also to try and work out ways to get the food enclosure for the wolves to eat, much load up treats in a container, for out of the melon, whilst being like a wild wolf pack would feed. We example recently we have given the surprisingly gentle. We also do this at sometimes hand feed, as all of our wolves melons, filling them with the Halloween with pumpkins, carved and wolves are socialised apart from wolves’ favourite treats and placing hollowed for each of the wolves. Training Problem solving We haven’t trained our wolves to react to stimuli, This is the kind of enrichment that can keep an animal busy for hours. such as clicker trainers, as we like our wolves to act Wolves are intelligent animals and their life quality is greatly increased like they would naturally. We have, however, if they are allowed to exercise this. We hide food in boxes, encouraging conditioned our wolves from a young age to certain them to work out where the food is and how to get to it. We recently situations and items. The main items the wolves at did this with coconuts, drilling holes in the coconut, emptying the the Trust have been conditioned to are leads and liquid and filling it full of the wolves’ favourite treats, keeping them collars which we use to walk them. Using this busy for hours. Some of the wolves, like Motomo and Tala, sat with the conditioning has allowed us to introduce walks to coconut between their paws for a while licking at it trying to roll the the wolves. We walk them not for exercise, but for treats out of the hole. Other wolves, like Nuka, attempted and sensory enrichment for the wolves, experiencing succeeded in biting and cracking the coconut open to get what was new sights, smells and sounds with every walk. inside after they realised rolling the coconut didn’t help much.

At certain times of the year, when we cake decorated with treats. As the enrichment, or otherwise, unless they are all celebrating events we often tailor summer months can be particularly hot were content in their surroundings and the wolves’ enrichment so children and in the UK, we do give the wolves ice their day to day experiences. adults can celebrate with them. At lollies as treats and to cool them down. To end this article I would like to Christmas, we usually wrap up parcels We tend to use different foods for the mention how we try and encourage all of for the wolves with special food treats ice lollies, some containing fruit such as our students on work experience to inside, which the animals have to rip water melon and others containing invent new enrichment ideas. A special open to get at. The wolves get a blood, drained off from their natural note must be made to Hannah Serna and Christmas tree in each enclosure too, food. The wolves love these ice lollies Corey Swanson, who introduced the with special hanging decorations to keep and will usually be seen rolling in them wolves to bubbles! It was a treat them entertained during this period. This before licking them down to nothing. watching the wolves react to something Easter we gave them eggs as enrichment Finally, comes Halloween. Each they possibly might never have seen treats. The eggs ranged from goose eggs, Halloween, when we are decorating our before. The Arctics all acted differently: rhea eggs and all the way up to ostrich own pumpkins with carved faces of Massak ran backwards across the eggs! It was incredible to see an ostrich ghosts and ghouls, we like to do the enclosure wanting to the play with the egg which I had to crack with a hammer, same for the wolves. Each gets a carved strange object, whilst being wary. Pukak be so easily and gently teased apart by pumpkin, filled with their favourite tried to eat every bubble that ventured Torak as he skilfully found the yolk, his treats. close enough (typical of Pukak!) Lastly, favourite part of the eggs. As a whole, enrichment is a crucial Sikko just watched them float down and On 5th May this year we had a wolf part of keeping any animal in captivity pop on the ground before sniffing the birthday party, as the wolves all have and in my opinion it is a highlight of ground where the bubble popped. birthdays in spring. Tala, Nuka and working with such incredible creatures. With the constant influx of new Tundra had all just turned three, two There is something really special about students, I am sure will come new ideas days before. During this event, the watching an animal show natural to help keep our wolves busy and wolves had special cakes made up for behaviour in a captive environment that content for the future. them and every wolf at the Trust got to is incredibly rewarding. Wolves wouldn’t celebrate their birthday period with a show these natural behaviours through Mike Collins, Site Manager

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 5 DIRECTOR’S LETTER

Wolves travel more amount of energy breaking the trail. frequently and for greater Packs also follow deer, moose and distances than any other caribou trails (sometimes even migrating terrestrial animal, except with the herds) in order to utilise perhaps the caribou. previously established roads. Wolves use Researchers estimate game trails, windswept frozen that wolves spend an waterways, foot trails, country roads, average of eight to ten ridges and even highways to avoid hours per day on the move. For example, cutting new trails. They use the same MUCH TO my in the summer, when the pups are still in trails over and over again for decades, amazement, it is now over ten years the den, tundra wolves have been passing the knowledge from generation since Roger (pictured above, with Kodiak known to travel forty miles round trip on to generation. and Kenai) passed away, in March 2004. hunting forays. Wolves travel even Who knows if these are lone wolves or I am delighted that the Trust, his legacy, further in the winter when the pups are packs in Denmark and near Paris. has flourished in the past decade. It has grown. However, the longest straight- Hopefully, through the research carried broadened its educational programme line distances are travelled when wolves out by students like Holly Root- with the new facilities and in those ten disperse. Lone wolves have been known Gutteridge on howling (see page 34) we years, I estimate that around 75,000 to show up in odd places, presumably in will get some definitive answers. people have visited. It is astonishing that search of a new territory or mate. In So home and away, we are all so many people are interested and Sweden for example, a wild wolf fascinated by the ways wolves howl and drawn to wolves. Since the Trust started appeared in the nation’s capital, with that in mind, our students are busy under Roger’s direction in 1995 we must hundreds of miles away from any other helping us with wolf communication have had well over 100,000 visitors wolves. It is unknown whether wolves research. We are very happy to welcome getting close to our wolves, all of whom that disperse have a destination in mind Mike Collins, our new site manager, to have helped us give nearly £200,000 to when they travel. our team of volunteers and staff. It’s a overseas wolf projects around the world. Interestedly, wolves most often travel strong team and ensures that the wolves Public perception of the wolf has single file and share the duty of cutting are looked after to a very high standard shifted hugely and we are slowly the trail at the front. In areas where of welfare. We now look forward to the beginning to understand and respect this snow accumulates to several feet, the busy summer holidays with Visit maligned animal. Ecologically, the time is lead wolf has to leap and sink down into Wednesdays and children’s walks every ripe for wolves to return to the habitats the snow or plough through to cut the Thursday. that can still sustain them. Wolves trail. Travelling as a pack may be regulate the prey population and as a necessary in deep snows, when a single Tsa Palmer, Director result guard the land from being wolf would expend an exorbitant overgrazed; environments that once supported the wolf are healthier when OUR NEW BRIDGE wolves are present. In addition to their 13th May: 15 traverse the role in the natural order, wolves also hardworking volunteers stream on their serve as a political ‘umbrella’ species. organised by Jay Eagle regular walks. The preservation of their expansive from HSBC Wiltshire We are habitat benefits equally endangered but painted the Education extremely less prominent species. Centre and put together grateful to HSBC Although the ecological need for a new bridge. Mai for helping us. wolves is clear, the issue of inspected and happily walked over the I know they enjoyed being out of the reintroducing them into their former bridge, much to everyone's enjoyment office on a sunny day, being serenaded habitat is complex. The costs of and relief. Wolves and people now by howling wolves. reintroduction are both financial and ethical; under current reintroduction and management programmes, wolves are NEW VOLUNTEERS NEEDED heavily monitored and are usually killed The Trust needs two categories of Wednesdays). Not as much time when humans deem necessary. The volunteers in September: commitment required. question is: is a heavily managed wolf Wolf Handlers: committing to two Anyone is welcome to apply to start still a wolf? days a month to build up the important the training programme. Please email In this edition of Wolf Print, we have relationship with our animals. the Trust: [email protected] and Tsa details of wolves returning to Denmark ‘Friends of the Trust’ Volunteers: to Palmer will meet with you all in and also to within 120 miles of Paris. be trained as guides (e.g. on Visit September.

6 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT Meet Mike: a word from our new site manager

MY NAME is Mike Collins, I am 27 and I work with wolves and have recently been made Site Manager have read many books, at the Trust. To me this is the job of my journals and papers about dreams. I have had a lot of experience how they behave. Wolves working with animals and studying I feel strike a chord in animal behaviour over the past decade, many people for many at least. I started my studies at different reasons: some Sparsholt College, studying Animal are attracted to their Management, where academic learning power, others for their was balanced with practical skills such intelligence. I think what has always funding to the charities which work to as building enclosures and work drawn me to wolves more than keep wolves in the wild. This just blew experience at Marwell Zoo. After anything, is just the injustice in the way me away. I decided to stay on helping graduating from Sparsholt College, I they are portrayed. I have a complete out as an unofficial volunteer on every decided to study animal behaviour, a respect for wolves as creatures and just spare day I could. I was then accepted subject which had really interested me how successful they are at populating as a volunteer in October and offered during my college years. This lead me the world. To hear countless stories, the job as Site Manager in January. to successfully applying for a place at nursery rhymes and common Working somewhere that you truly Aberystwyth University and I graduated misconceptions about wolves being admire is an incredible feeling. I look three years later. murderous monsters has always forward to my working days, even if I After university my first job was two annoyed me. do have to travel one hundred and years working for an aquarium. During During my time with the wolves, it twenty miles a day! my time there I first heard about the made me realise just how special the UKWCT and applied for work Trust is, having given away nearly two Photo: Mike and Tala, by Pat Melton experience. I have always wanted to hundred thousand pounds worth of

Tripadvisor award and reviews 2014 Certificate of Excellence THE TRUST is delighted to announce SOME RECENT reviews on TripAdvisor volunteers/staff were great, their that we have achieved a 2014 have made us all at the Trust extremely enthusiasm, passion and love for the Certificate of Excellence Award from happy. For example: “An excellent wolves is very obvious to see. There was TripAdvisor. experience!”, reviewed 18th May 2014 plenty of opportunity for taking photos/video, and for asking questions. “We experienced the Howl Night, and Although the wolves are on leashes, they army of volunteers who make this such a then a Walk with Wolves the following can walk around the designated areas in special and unique place, but more day. From the moment we arrived, the the fields at their own pace. We were importantly, for providing a safe haven staff were so friendly, helpful and very lucky enough to see a small deer, which for these majestic animals, and providing informative. We were greeted with free jumped out from some bushes before the education, information and resources teas, coffees and biscuits before being bounding off down the field. There are needed to help protect wolves all over given a presentation about wolves and other wildlife to see too, red kites, owls the world.” their behaviour. The presenter (one of etc. The Beenham Pack are such a (Visitor, May 2014) the many volunteers) was very delight, and I even got a little friendly lick knowledgeable and extremely eager to off Nuka! pass on his knowledge and experiences “Again, at the end of the walk we DONATIONS of wolves. We then proceeded outside to were not rushed to leave, and were able Further to the 6,000 donated earlier see all of the various wolves, again with to have a good browse at the goods in in 2014, the Trust has also donated: more information and discussion given. the shop, with some good buys taken The howling was really fun, and, yes, the home. £4,000 to Zagreb Veterinary Institute wolves howled back! At the end of the “The centre contains some very good in Croatia, c/o Josip Kusak. session, we were not rushed to leave, information displays and CDs to watch, and we could spend some more time and it was good to hear about the £2,000 to Grupo Lobo. taking photos of these wonderful educational aspect, with schools visiting You can read about Grupo Lobo’s animals, plus more tea and biscuits! and college student projects. work in an article by James Rowe on “The Walking with Wolves experience “This has been a magical experience, page 16–17 and also visit the English was truly unique. To have the never to be forgotten! We will definitely version of Grupo Lobo’s website at opportunity to be so close to the wolves be returning soon. http://lobo.fc.ul.pt/UK/ is really fantastic. Again all of the “Huge thanks go to all of the staff and

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 7 Amazing adaptable frogs! Visitors are walking with the wolves near the bottom pond of the Trust. Suddenly, the grass stirs and a frog hops by. It has woken from its winter hibernation and is heading for the pond to find a mate. Wendy Brooker, The Trust’s education officer and editor of the junior members’ magazine Wolf Chronicle, continues:

some was left in eyelids to protect their eyes under water the big tanks so and a webbed foot in each of two that visiting worlds. Hungry predators on land? Dive children could into the water. Not enough to eat in the study it and pond? Hop out and forage on shore. watch the Frogs can leap 20 times their body tadpoles develop length. That would be about 100 feet for into frogs. No us! Their long back legs have doubt the frogs tremendous strength. Their smooth skin will still return to has a moist feel and can be anything the wolves’ pond from greeny brown to dark brown next year to lay covered with dark blotches. The under their eggs! They belly is white or yellowish. Their are very beautiful prominent eyes are brown with ike all amphibians, frogs are cold- territorial animals. horizontal pupils. blooded, meaning their Contrary to popular myth, frogs are Sadly, because of changes to our L temperatures change to suit their mainly land animals and usually only go environment, the use of insecticides environment. They have been around for into water for long periods at breeding which depletes their food and loss of 190 million years thanks to their amazing times. They meet up in shallow water habitat, the common frog is becoming ability to adapt. In the winter they and ponds around February to March rarer. Frogs play an important part in the hibernate in burrows, under rotting when the males compete for the eco-system and act as little bio- leaves, in wood piles or in Contrary to popular myth, females. The familiar indicators. This is where we at the Trust the mud at the bottom of croaking goes on all day do our best to help by creating frogs are mainly land animals a pond scarcely breathing and little heads pop out amphibian friendly habitats and until February or March depending on of the water to look around. Spawning providing places for the frogs to the weather. The Trust has several ponds usually takes place after dark and 1,000s hibernate. and shallow watery areas and they are of jelly coated eggs are laid which float Information sheets for school visits all used by frogs for breeding in the to the surface of the water and cling to a are proposed for this year. spring. Even the ponds in the wolves’ weed or the bank. After about four The Trust’s work experience students enclosures have frogs and toads in at weeks the wriggly black tadpoles have made frog “houses” by sinking two times! (Frogs secrete a nasty tasting fluid emerge. They are at the mercy of bricks into earth and putting a slate or onto their skins when frightened so that predators such as fish, water fowl, slab on top. An upturned large clay the wolves don’t like eating them). dragonfly larvae etc. The tadpoles are flower pot makes a safe environment for The very brave frogs and toads in the vegetarians at birth and breathe through hibernation and there are plenty of Beenham pack’s pond had a bit of gills which are absorbed after four wood piles nearby. All our ponds have excitement earlier in the year! The heaps weeks. They soon become carnivores as shelved edges and plant-covered banks of frog and toad spawn in their pond they grow older. (Try floating a piece of so that the frogs can climb out easily. caught Nuka, Tala and Tundra’s eyes and beef amongst them – it is Frogs are at the mercy of a Most of the ponds have they waded in to investigate. Then they scary.) At 12 weeks old water plants in—and the noticed the pond liner under the mud they are miniature variety of predators wolves “help” to keep them and spent a happy time ripping some of versions of their parents, all too often under control when they go in the ponds it to pieces. The water in the pond sunk victims of lawnmowers or the wolves on on their walks!! rapidly and the handlers had to go in and walks! It is amazing to watch the tiny Conservation and education are at the move the mischievous wolves to the side froglets hopping amongst the long grass top of the Trust’s list of priorities, enclosure. The pack was moved to the around all the ponds and streams. whether it is wolves in the wild or our bottom enclosure and the calmer more Frogs are at the mercy of a variety of own humble frogs on site. Every animal well behaved Arctic wolves were put in predators such as crows, ducks, cars and has an important role to play in the top enclosure. The spawn was even our wolves! Frogs eat insects, slugs, maintaining a healthy ecosystem. rescued and put into tanks. Some was snails and worms so are great to have in relocated to a safer environment and a garden. They have transparent inner Wendy Brooker

8 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT Update on the Trust Wolves MOSI and TORAK

MOSI and TORAK celebrated their eighth speed, jumping up and down over the birthdays in late April and continue to platforms and ending up splashing in the live happily together. Now that the pond. He also discovered a loose corner breeding season is over and their of pond liner and did his best to dig it up hormones are settling down, they are before being seen – wolves don’t miss an starting their enrichment walks again. opportunity for mischief! He obviously They both really enjoy these and enjoys the relative peace of the top although they are retired from public enclosure and is relaxing into the coming life, it’s important for their welfare that summer season when hormones are low they continue to go out to explore the and he won’t be pestered so much by world beyond their enclosure. In spring Mosi. He is starting to shed his coat and there are lots of new sights and smells, he always looks magnificent in his which the wolves revel in – they summer attire when you can really see especially appreciate strong scents that his lean, muscular form. Torak is now in they can roll in. The spot where the the prime of his life and continues to be tractor was parked in the top field has extremely popular with our visitors. In proved a big hit – who knew wolves fact, he is our most adopted wolf! were into diesel and rubber as a Mosi (bottom left) has also benefited fragrance? from the enclosure move. Now that she feels she doesn’t have to constantly harass her sister, she has taken it upon herself to greet everyone who comes on site, as she is the first wolf people will see when they arrive at the Trust. Mosi is a gregarious animal and likes to know what is going on at all times. She is very vocal and anyone who wants to hear a wolf howl is not going to be disappointed when Mosi is around. We can always rely on her to give a performance! She is also extremely Torak (above) was quite vocal this defensive of her food or enrichment, breeding season and took to howling which is fascinating to watch. For Easter, from the enclosure mound and regularly she and Torak were given a special treat patrolling the boundary fence. Once – one of the volunteers brought them Mosi came into season they mated and some hard-boiled ostrich eggs. These are tied several times, after which Mosi the equivalent of 24 hens’ eggs each and busied herself digging a den and caching Mosi did her best to hang on to both of food even though she wasn’t carrying them. Unfortunately for her Torak pups. This cycle of behavior is very wasn’t going to let her keep something interesting to observe and one of the that good to herself and made off reasons our wolves make such good quickly with his egg. It took them a while study animals. However, the aggression to get into and eat them but they Mosi was showing to Mai through the thoroughly enjoyed this unusual snack. fence that separates them escalated to a Torak wasn’t so lucky when the pair point that it was becoming dangerous were given special wolf birthday “cakes” for both animals (particularly their teeth (made of liver and chicken) recently – as they tried to get at each other by Mosi made sure she had her fill before biting the wire) so Mosi and Torak were he could take a nibble! moved to the top enclosure in March to allow things to settle down. Nikki Davies The move to the new enclosure brought out the pup in Torak! He was Photos: Mosi, by Suvi Hall thrilled to be somewhere new and Torak, by Francesca Macilroy charged around the perimeter at great

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 9 THE ARCTICS: MASSAK, PUKAK and SIKKO

Pukak (left) and Sikko on an Arctic Amble, by Francesca Macilroy

OUR ARCTIC wolves love coming out for their walkabouts, suitably called Arctic Ambles. They are sweet-natured critters but can be nervous of certain obstacles, i.e. gates and although socialised, they are, as all wolves, inherently wary of new things. Their intelligence never lets them get complacent. However with their experienced handlers, who have built up a good bond over a long period of time they have developed that all important Trust and respect for each other so they are willing to ‘give it a go’ through Massak, enjoying these occasional bottlenecks. At birthday cake, these points we remind the visitors by Suvi Hall to hold back, so allowing for as smooth a transition as possible from one field into another.

Initially our visitors are (as with all our just like water! Pukak, the subordinate wolves) given a brief talk, before even male, even managed a few doggy paddle seeing the Arctics, on how to behave investigating all aspects the walk has to strokes in the stream with his handler around them etc. So that when the offer and taking full advantage of his Andy (longer legs – but not swimming!) wolves enter the meeting field from carefree position. He is a young mature coming up at the rear! It also made for a another gate about half a field away, male finding out like any youngster how lovely photo opportunity for our visitors both visitors and wolves can assess and far he can push the boundaries and sees to see them in the pond amongst the see each other well before the wolves what he can get away with. His reeds drinking, wading and generally approach. We ask visitors to stand in a exuberance sometimes can make him a exploring. I worried at first as I thought loose group so that the wolves may bit of a handful if he starts jumping up they might be after tadpoles or frogs but meander amongst them while at the etc but with calm handling, including they were just happy to paddle and have same time giving the visitors their first diversion tactics onto something more a short drink and would have stayed close up view of them before setting off interesting, for such a young lad he there longer had time permitted – but on the amble which takes approximately pretty much behaves himself! Sikko the there is always next time! an hour. Our role as handlers is primarily female on the other hand is a gentle Although they get out regularly for an to guide the wolves safely round in the soul and happy to leave these antics to ‘amble’ Mike, our Wolf Keeper, and his general direction we want to go, they her brother and enjoy a quiet walk. team of students are constantly coming aren’t trained animals but wander The other Sunday on a rare sunny up with new ideas for their within and without of the group as they day, having passed through a couple of entertainment which is officially called please. gates with relative ease they hadn’t ‘enrichment.’ Not so long ago, they tried As with all families they all have their seen before, they were rewarded with a out a carcass feed for the Arctics with a different personalities, Massak is the paddle! We took them down to our 15 kilo roe deer. Pukak was in first and boss who tends to keep back watching fields at the bottom of the Trust where guarded the carcass. Massak tried to all that is going on around him, keeping there is a stream and pond – both full show dominance but decided against a an eye on not only his pack but the with recent rain. And boy, are they fight while Skikko kept nearby waiting visitors as well. Pukak the subordinate water babies! I don’t know whether it for an opportunity to get some food and male doesn’t have that responsibility was the newness of the experience that managed to snatch a piece of the and therefore has the luxury of appealed to them so much or that they carcass while the boys were having a „

10 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT THE BEENHAM PACK: NUKA, TUNDRA AND TALA

Left to right: Tundra, Tala and Nuka, by Darren Prescott

ƒ stand-off. Later, Massak was seen THE BEENHAM pack have been looking rather moth-eaten and the fur is with the piece that Sikko had and displaying their mischievous tendencies coming out in handfuls. It must be Pukak was still guarding the main – while hunting for frogs in the pond of terribly itchy as Tala is only too happy to piece even though he had seemed to the top enclosure they found the pond solicit a prolonged plucking session from have eaten his fill. No surprise there liner which they then comprehensively any convenient handler. In pack position, as he loves his food and although we destroyed – the top enclosure pond is Tala is generally accepting of her ‘beta monitor all the wolves’ food intake now no longer a pond and the female’ rank though she still engages in it’s never more pertinent than for Beenham Three have been moved to feisty and at first sight rather aggressive Pukak. Next day there was only skin the bottom enclosure. ‘wolf-piles’ with her brother and sister. and bone left, hence the expression Nuka – now fully mature at three Tundra retains her dominant female ‘wolfing it down’. years old – remains friendly and rank and has also recently shown Although the wolves are usually fed inquisitive and always ready to meet increasing confidence around unfamiliar six days a week with one starve day a new handlers or volunteers, especially people – on visitor-walks she will – if week, in this instance an extra starve if he thinks they might be persuaded to she’s in the mood – sometimes come day was added, which was also a give him a belly rub. On recent walks he and join the group with her siblings, but chance for them to sleep it off! has been fascinated by people working she still generally prefers to watch Luckily, they can burn off this food on the local allotments, particularly the what’s going on from a safe distance. with some territorial interaction with wearer of fluorescent pink gardening When she is in the enclosure, her their neighbours, Mai and Motomo, gloves and the person who was carrying demeanour is totally different – she running up and down their adjoining a brightly coloured plastic bucket – I easily holds her own against Tala and boundary fence and general antics suspect he thought feeding time had Nuka, and will steal their food at feeding playing tag with each other at dawn come early! time. She also really enjoys an intensive and dusk, this being the prime time of Tala is the first of the Beenhams to rubbing and scratching session with the day when wolves are at their start moulting this year – by the end of those handlers she considers part of her most active. April little tufts of underfur were inner circle of trusted friends. Not a bad life eh! coming loose from her hips and the base of her tail; now in mid-May she is Pete Morgan-Lucas Suzanne Fine

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 11 MAI AND MOTOMO

MAI and MOTOMO now have new neighbours, Mosi and Torak having been replaced by Massak, Pukak and Sikko as part of one of the regular “pack shuffles”. Without her ‘evil twin sister’ next door to growl at through the fence, Mai has been rather more relaxed. She has excavated an interesting series of dens into the mound in her enclosure – we think this is probably because her hormones and the day-length changes are reminding her that it would be the time of year for cubs (if she hadn’t been sterilised). These dens are large enough for even Motomo to climb down into and be completely invisible from the outside. On a couple of occasions Mai has been seen to defend a den against Motomo, she’s also driven him off with a curled-lip snarl when he’s tried to steal her food. Motomo now regularly indulges in staring contests with the two Arctic males and will often do a ‘bounce’ at them through the wire – running up quickly with his tail raised, then going into a semi-crouched position as if ready to spring at them if the fence wasn’t there. He will do this with some handlers too – so we have to be extra- careful when for any reason we are behind the outer safety-fence. At other times, Motomo reveals his softer side – he is still extremely devoted to Mai, and the two can often be seen quietly nuzzling each other or indulging in gentle muzzle-mouthing.

Pete Morgan-Lucas

Photos: Top: Motomo and Mai, by Patrick Melton Bottom: Motomo, by Pete Morgan-Lucas

12 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT Coastal Wolves of the Great Bear Rainforest

THE GREY wolf is still found in a good part of Canada’s historical range, although it is rare in areas of high human populations. However, on the Pacific Northwest coast there is a distinctive subspecies known as the Coastal Wolf; they are one of the least studied on the North American continent. In the past, any indigenous wolves have been largely unaffected by people, as much of the wolves’ terrain is inaccessible. The Pacific Northwest is also home to one of the largest remaining temperate rainforests in the world. This rainforest once covered the area from Alaska to Northern California but today much of it has already been destroyed by human encroachment and logging. Therefore very little remains south of the Canadian border but the area that is left contains ancient old growth cedars, Western hemlocks, Douglas firs and Sitka spruce trees. Some of the cedars are up to 1,500 years old. The area also has very biologically diverse ecosystem. In 1997 the central and northern British Columbia coastal regions were renamed the Great Bear Rainforest by various environmental groups, who were starting a campaign for its protection.

The nourishing power of salmon

Life here is dominated by the Pacific All wolves can swim, but coastal eat carrion but this could include Ocean and the subsequent rainfall the wolves often swim up to nine miles in washed up whales, seals and even ocean brings. Wolves that have extremely cold water with strong tidal squid. In common with other wolves, survived here are very much adapted currents, to hunt in the intertidal once they find a good meal they often to this ecosystem. Some of their zones. It is here that they can catch have to share with grizzlies, black bears behaviour is different to their inland seals, otters and mink. They also dig in and the ever-present ravens and relatives and is believed to have been the soft ground for clams and crabs but eagles. They also participate in the shaped by the uniqueness of their also crunch on barnacles from the side area’s annual gift from the sea in the environment. of rocks. Like other wolves, they will form of the salmon. Interestingly, „

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 13 ƒ Coastal Wolves of the Great Bear Rainforest wolves only eat the head of the salmon – Similarly to their inland cousins, Even wolves with quite severe disabilities which is the most nutritious part of the coastal wolves will also catch ungulates. e.g. a leg missing, have been witnessed fish containing omega 3 fatty acids. This However, according to the Rainforest to survive a number of years. Coastal also reduces the chance of the wolves Conservation Foundation, some wolves wolves are generally smaller than their catching a potentially fatal parasite the here receive up to 75% of their diet from inland relatives and can be black, white salmon can carry. They will generally fish, depending on where they live. or a mixture of colours. They often have catch the spawning salmon in the water Although salmon is a seasonal food they a large amount of red in their coat that and take it to the side of the river to eat. have a 30% kill rate, which is higher than blends in perfectly with their However, some they will take into the the average kill rate for ungulates. This is surroundings. Their fur is generally forest thus returning vital nutrients to thought to account for a better than shorter and coarser than other wolves. the soil. Salmon being taken into the average pup survival rate as they have a Whilst these wolves have survived well in forests account for 80% of the forest good supply of food at a time of the year the past due to their distance from man growth’s nitrogen. which is traditionally hard for wolves. they are now facing increasing threats:

THREATS TO THE COASTAL WOLVES

Hunting In parts of British Columbia wolves are of a wolf pack. Less forest means less falling victim to extremists who want to ungulate food source but also, areas that eradicate predators to increase elk and are completely devoid of trees are also other big game for profitable hunting subject to mud slides which can carry sprees. Snares are baited with road-killed high levels of silt into the river, thus elk or mule deer; snares designed to kill affecting the salmon runs. the wolves in a most inhumane way. Animals are also being poisoned, trapped Salmon Farming and shot from helicopters. Many local Large scale ‘open net’ pen farming in this websites offer wolf hunting packages. area has resulted in the spread of sea lice Shockingly, some are marketed for to some forms of wild salmon. Sea lice families and even show photographs of are a natural parasite and can be small children hunting alongside their tolerated by adult salmon in small parents. numbers. However, the cramped conditions of some farms making them Environmental Pollution ideal breeding grounds for parasites and A new pipeline has been proposed, the problem burgeons. Older salmon intended to carry crude oil 700 miles pass the parasite to younger and more from Alberta to Kitimat in British vulnerable. Chemicals can be used to Columbia. Ultimately, oil would then be control the lice but this also has a loaded onto tankers for export to Asia negative impact on the sea quality. and supertankers carrying condensate would come back. These would expose Disease the area to potential catastrophic oil Industrial activity has brought humans spills. An oil spill would not only affect and dogs to the area, causing concern the salmon run but would pollute all that this may increase natural cycle other food sources and make it diseases or bring new ones. Ultimately, impossible for the wolves to swim safely this may threaten the health of wolves in the waters. and other wildlife. To assess the There are also proposed wind farm potential problems, the Raincoast projects which could impact on the Conservation Foundation has recently environmentally sensitive areas. started analysing animal scat for evidence of parasites. They are then Logging planning to develop a spatially explicit Close to 60% of the world’s original model of parasite distribution in dogs coastal temperate rainforests have and wolves across coastal landscapes. already been destroyed by logging and Blood samples taken from dogs will development. Clear cut logging has had a enabling a listing of diseases carried or hugely negative impact. Recently, a exposed to and will give a baseline for logging truck ran over the alpha female the future monitoring of diseases.

14 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT EDUCATION AND PROTECTION In parts of British Columbia wolves are falling victim to extremists who want to eradicate predators to increase elk and other big game for profitable hunting sprees. Snares are baited with road-killed elk or mule deer; snares designed to kill the wolves in a most inhumane way. Animals are also being poisoned, trapped and shot from helicopters. Many local websites offer wolf hunting packages. Shockingly, some are marketed for families and even show photographs of small children hunting alongside their parents. Whilst this is good news there is still work to be done. Trophy hunting of wolves is reported to be at an all time high and is happening even in conservancy areas. Pacific Wild is a locally based conservation group that work with the local people to monitor the threats facing this area. They also do presentations to audiences both in the US, Canada and Europe but also have crew in the field talking to the people in boats or cruise ships in the area to raise awareness. They are asking the Government to implement a number of ideas to help reduce the amount of wolves being killed each year. These include:

● Banning leg-hold traps, snares and baiting ● Stopping helicopter killing and sterilisation ● Returning to licences, quotas and restricted seasons ● Setting aside a large area for multiple wolf packs and their prey, which would provide a benchmark for scientific research

Pacific Wild also raise awareness through their website www.PacificWild.org. Here, they have established webcams both above and below the water (available to watch during local daylight hours). Most recently viewers have been able to watch wolves catch herring in the spring spawn. On April 17th this year, the British Columbian Government released their new wolf management scheme. They have estimated that the number of wolves in the province as between 5,300 and 11,600. All is based on information mostly from hunters and trappers as there is no official data. They also state that 1,400 wolves were reported killed by humans last year but admit it could have been more as there is no compulsory reporting or inspection. The scheme is problematic largely due to this lack of vital data. Nevertheless, they have forged ahead with a new plan which still does very little to offer the wolf any protection. In most of British Columbia, hunters can still have unlimited killing rights on wolves of any age or sex. No licence is required for wolves, although you will need a licence if you want to kill geese or deer.

CONCLUSION

Having already lost so many different sub-species of wolf it is of the utmost importance that we do not lose this unique wolf. The British Columbian Government really does need to ensure that they get accurate data and that they bring in plans that address the concerns of the environmentalists, rather than just the ranchers. The measures that are being asked for by the environmental groups will not only help the wolf but numerous other species which call this land home. In protecting the forest it will also help humans and the impacts of global warming. It is urgent now that they look at the bigger picture to protect this beautiful land and its inhabitants before it is too late.

Cammie Kavanagh is an assistant senior handler at the UKWCT and has been a supporter of the Trust’s projects since 1997, both as a member and volunteer.

Both photos by Cammie Kavanagh

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 15 Living with the Iberian Wolf: farmers and hunters have their say

‘I’ll never put poison down, because I don’t like it. You should respect animals. I don’t believe in killing wolves.’ Luis Calcada, Farmer.

IN 1896, when Spanish railway workers gouged a narrow trench through the Sierra Atapuerca to join the mines of Sierra de la Demanda with Bilbao’s steel mills, they found more than limestone. Unwittingly, they stumbled upon one of the most astounding archaeological sites of all time: a labyrinth of caves filled with the bones, tools and paintings of our earliest ancestors. Amid the bones of primitive man were those of hyenas, European jaguars, lions, and wolves. 850,000 years later, just one of these remains: the Iberian wolf. Photo: by James Howe The Iberian wolf faces a very different world to the snowy wastelands of Alaska, or the magnificent rocky peaks of A predator in the mountains inclined to take the law in their own Yellowstone National Park. They make Luis Calcada works in the rugged hands and solve their wolf problems their dens in cornfields and use flyovers Cabreira Mountains near the Portuguese with strychnine-laced baits. to cross congested national highways. village of Formigueiro. Each day he In a drive to protect the wolves They eat sheep. They brawl with stray accompanies his goats on their long against such vigilante justice, Portuguese farm dogs and wander into villages from decent to the irrigated grazing pastures wolf conservation association Grupo time to time. Yet despite having gotten at the foot of the mountain. Asked how Lobo is working with shepherds to revive under the skin of human beings for many animals he has lost to wolves, an ancient custom: the use of massive countless generations, Iberian wolves Calcada replies: “As many as I have guarding dogs to protect livestock. This have not merely managed to keep a claw now”. He currently has 150 goats. practice originated on the Iberian hold on the Iberian Peninsula; they’re Calcada vividly describes the attacks he Peninsula as far back as 3000BC. Now, actually increasing in number. Almost has witnessed in broad daylight and with the recent spike in wolf numbers, completely extirpated in the ’50s and explains how a wolf will patiently tail a farmers are once again turning to these ’60s, their population size has more than herd, waiting for its opportunity to cut ancient breeds in an effort to keep the quadrupled, from 400 individuals in 1970 out a straggler. He also tells of a close predators at bay. Placed with the to the present 2,500. neighbour who had lost seven goats in livestock shortly after birth, the dogs Packs have started recolonising their one killing spree just a fortnight prior to form their primary bond with the former territory, spreading from the our conversation. Although such wolf animals and will go to any length to north-west of the Iberian Peninsula damage is government-compensated, protect them. Three years ago, Grupo towards Basque in the east and Madrid the paperwork can be drawn out for as Lobo gave Calcada a pair of the giant in the south. And everywhere they go long as a year and compensation doesn’t breed Cão de Castro Laboreiro. Calcada they ignite the fear, love and hatred of taking into account the future economic hasn’t lost a single goat since. So pleased humans, as only a wolf knows how. impact of losses. As a result, farmers are has he been with the efficacy of the dogs, he decided to keep a pup from their first litter and now takes the whole family as the herd makes its daily journey to the pastures. ‘It’s really beautiful to have them,’ he says. ‘They’re a big help – they just go along with the goats and you don’t need to worry about them. Before I got the dogs I would lose up to 15 goats a year. People told me “You should take care of Photo: by John Hallowell of Wild Wolf Experience the wolf,” but I said “no”. I’ll never put 16 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT poison down, because I don’t like it. You are non-refundable) should respect animals. I don’t believe in Villegas believes the killing wolves.’ benefits outweigh the Biologist Silvia Ribeiro, who heads costs. Grupo Lobo’s livestock guarding dog “I think it’s a good program, spends most days driving in system,” he says. “The northern Portugal’s remote, game keepers on the mountainous wolf country. Although it national game reserves had shaky beginnings, the program control and keep a good rapidly became more successful as wolf population and we herdsmen witnessed for themselves the have very, very few permits Photo: by James Howe dogs’ power to prevent wolf attacks. to hunt wolves every year. Today as Ribeiro travels from village to During the winter when we do the recently as 40 years ago it was village to monitor the guarding dogs, she driven hunt, we have one permit in one customary to drive wolves into giant receives a steady stream of requests big area. We have the possibility to stone-walled pits, then parade them from shepherds. shoot just one wolf, but sometimes we proudly dead or alive through the village, ‘At the beginning I think the see one, sometimes we see nothing. So towns are starting to build high-budget shepherds were suspicious,’ she says. it’s not a guaranteed hunt.” wolf tourism centres. ‘Every time we tried to speak to them Wolf biologist and Grupo Lobo According to Grupo Lobo director about their wolf damage and their dogs, director Francisco Fonseca believes wolf Francisco Fonseca, even the shepherds they’d say “no I have enough dogs – my hunting takes a higher toll on wolves are mellowing in their hatred towards dogs are perfect”. But when we could than is immediately evident. He says the the wolf. convince them to take the livestock removal of alpha animals disturbs packs’ “From the conversations I’ve had with guarding dogs, they could tell the complex social structure and worries the shepherds, they seem to be difference between their own dogs and about the impact feeding stations – used becoming more open to accepting the the ones we were giving them. In some by rangers to encourage wolves to wolf – they’re changing the way they see places where we’ve introduced the dogs, frequent certain locations – have on the wolf,” he says. the attacks have just stopped – there are natural processes. Figueruela de Arriba, a cattle herder, no more damages. And in other places “I do not believe that hunting a personifies this newfound tolerance. He they have stopped in 75 percent of the species can help to protect it,” he says. speaks animatedly, almost cases.’ “To me, it’s very difficult to understand affectionately, of an enchanting Grupo Lobo hopes to reduce the that.” encounter he had with a wolf which attacks to the point where wolves and Julian Sykes of Oliva Rama Tours, who trotted right into the midst of his cows farmers can live together with some runs wolf-watching trips to Sierra de la without harming or panicking the herd. degree of harmony. Livestock protection Culebra, believes properly managed wolf He seems surprised when I ask if he is an absolutely crucial ingredient in any tourism could readily replace hunting as bears any ill-feeling towards the wolves. effective wolf conservation strategy. A a means of funding the reserves. It’s “The wolf is not a problem for us,” he study on northern Portugal’s Peneda- estimated that wolf tourism in Sierra de says. “Here, they have many deer to Gerês National Park, where domestic la Culebra brings in €500,000 each year; feed on – they don’t bother the cows.” animals constitute 90% of the resident more than three times the yield of wolf He circles on a map the best places for wolves’ diet, found that almost half hunting. me go to scope for wolves. “I very much known wolf deaths come as a result of “If the local governments that run like to see the wolf,” he says. He gives illegal shooting and poisoning. In areas these reserves thought about it long- me a telephone number and email where livestock predation is low, such as term, they could do some good to both address, and asks me to send him a in the Montesinho Natural Park, wolves the wolf and people wanting to see it,” photo if I manage to have any luck. suffer almost no direct persecution from says Sykes. “They could make so much humans. more money from this type of tourism.” James Howe ‘In this area, the wolf has always lived The road ahead here so the people are used to wolves,’ James Howe is a freelance magazine says Ribeiro. ‘Even if the shepherds are The fate of the Iberian wolf is journalist and photographer. He not that happy, they expect to have inextricably tied to the willingness of covers issues ranging from human some damage.’ humans to tolerate its existence. rights violations in Africa to cheese Throughout its range, this animal is Hunting for the Iberian wolf making. He has written articles and routinely shot, poisoned, snared, run photographed in such places as Alvaro Villegas, owner of Spanish over, displaced by forest fires, new Botswana, Spain, England and Lord hunting company Eurohunt, has been highways and wind farms. Wolves living Howe Island, specialising in off-the- offering the Iberian wolf for ten years to south the Duero River in Portugal beaten-track style stories. He hunt. During that time, only three of his scavenge most of their sustenance from currently resides in Adelaide, Australia clients have managed to bag one. With garbage dumps. But attitudes are with his wife and two children. many hunts ending in failure (permits beginning to shift. In regions where as ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 17 Nordic Noir A Nordic Detective Story: How the wolf may have returned to Denmark after two centuries of absence

‘All of Denmark was holding its breath.’ Mogens Trolle, wildlife biologist/mammalogist from the Natural History Museum of Denmark.

It is a perfect setting for a mystery: across the cool dark forests and open heath of Denmark; something is stirring. But this is not Nordic noir and there is no convoluted subtitled plot. However, this is a detective story, finding evidence to confirm the return of the wolf to the Danish landscape. Mogens Trolle gives us the timeline:

In 1813, the last known February 2013: Camera-trap photos of wolf were wild Danish grey wolf published monthly or so from Central Jutland. Always was killed in Jutland. single individuals. However, we still did not know how 6 and 14 October 2012: A many individuals we had or what sex they were. wolf-like canid was 30 May 2013: Results of DNA analyses of saliva samples photographed on two from killed deer and livestock, as well as from faeces occasions in Thy National collected in Central Jutland, were published. To most Park in the very north of people’s great surprise, DNA had been found from Jutland. The quality of the three new male wolves after the Thy Wolf. One was a photos did not allow a younger brother of the Thy Wolf, i.e. from the same firm conclusion as to pack in Eastern Germany. The additional two were whether or not it was thought to come from Poland. Wolves had also killed indeed a wolf. All of several sheep and a calf. Denmark was holding its August 2013: A group of enthusiastic amateurs looking breath. This was one of the for signs of wolves – Wolf Tracking Denmark biggest news stories. (Ulvetracking.dk) – published three recordings of canid 16 November 2012: A dead male howls. PhD graduate researcher from Nottingham wolf-like canid was found in Thy Trent University, Holly Root-Gutteridge, evaluated the National Park – most likely the same recordings using her specially developed software for individual photographed. The analyzing and individually recognising wolf calls and subsequent autopsy revealed that it concluded that at least one of the howls was indeed had died from natural causes – a most likely from a wolf. tumour in the chest cavity. But Remainder of 2013: There were many rumours but again, due to its decayed state it only a few substantial wolf records, e.g. a couple of was not possible to conclude with camera-trap photos. It was feared that the lack of 100% certainty that it was a wild records was due to some or all of the wolves having wolf. been killed illegally by hunters. 7 December 2012: The results of the DNA 21 January 2014: Wolf Tracking Denmark recorded analysis of the Thy Wolf were finally published (the howling from a whole pack of canids analyses were conducted by Aarhus University). The (http://ulvetracking.dk/ index.php/ulvehylen.html). Thy Wolf was indeed a true wild wolf. By comparing Again, Holly Root-Gutteridge was asked to analyse the with the comprehensive German DNA register of their recordings. She identified at least three and maybe four wolves, it was possible to establish that the male had individuals in the howling choir, including most likely an been born in 2009 to a known wolf pack in the Lausitz adult male and female. The third individual could region of Eastern Germany – the region in Germany theoretically be a yearling. Holly concluded that the with the largest wolf population. The male had been howling chorus most likely came from wolves. If this about three and a half years old at the time of death. indeed the case it would be a breeding couple plus one The distance from its birthplace to Thy National Park in or two offspring from 2013. The fact that we already straight lines is around 800km which, although far, is might have our first wolf pack came as a huge surprise well within the known dispersal distances of young for most. wolves looking for a territory and mate of their own. April 2014: Two new camera-trap photos of single wolf 26 December 2012: A new wolf was photographed in individuals from Central Jutland. Jutland near the town of Dejbjerg (between Skjern 24 April 2014: Results from the latest DNA analyses and Ringkøbing). were published, showing seven new DNA proofs of wolf in Central Jutland from July to December 2013. „

18 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT Library wolf pictures by Vladimir Bologov A Tribute to Farley Mowat, Friend to the Wolf ‘Somewhere to the eastward a wolf His most famous from the International howled; lightly, questioningly. I knew work was “Never Cry Fund for Animal the voice, for I had heard it many times Wolf” (1963) where he Welfare in 2003; he before. It was George, sounding the wrote in fictionalised was inducted into the wasteland for an echo from the missing first person about Canada Walk of Fame members of his family. But for me it was observing the Arctic in 2010. a voice which spoke of the lost world wolf. It’s a book that So many people which once was ours before we chose most of us in the expressed sadness at the alien role; a world which I had lupine world have on his passing: glimpsed and almost entered...only to our bookshelves. He ‘Mr Mowat was be exclued, at the end, by my own self.’ was also showered obviously a passionate ― Farley Mowat, Never Cry Wolf with awards in his Canadian who shaped lifetime: the Queen a lot of my ONLY A few days before his 93rd Elizabeth II Jubilee generation, growing birthday, that would have fallen on 12th Medal and the up, with his books. He May, Canadian Naturalist Farley Mowat Governor General’s Award for “Lost in will be sorely missed,’ said [Canada’s] died. Mowat was the author of over 40 the Barrens” in 1956 and the Leacock Liberal leader Justin Trudeau. books and he was never afraid to speak Medal for Humour for “The Boat Who ‘So sorry to hear that Mr Mowat has out about things he felt passionately Wouldn’t Float” in 1970, He also died. Wonderful colleague & friend of about, whether it was aboriginal rights, received the Order of Canada in 1981 many years,’ author, Margaret Atwood. the horrors of seal and whale hunting. and a Lifetime Achievement Award

Nordic Noir

ƒ Two of these records came from a wolf- Many wolf sceptics in Denmark they spread very long distances. For killed goat and calf, respectively. argue that Denmark is too small for example, in 2009 a radio-collared 29 April 2014: An article gathering all of wolves, too densely populated and one-year old male from Eastern the evidence for wolf so far, i.e. from the too affected by humans, for the Germany dispersed more than 1550 Thy Wolf in 2012 to 2014 was published. wolf to able to thrive. But in km in 47 active days of migration This included all of 23 pieces of DNA- modern Europe, around 10,000 and ended up in Belarus. Both evidence. wolves live in human-affected males and females can become landscapes and share landscapes distant dispersers. Some of these In conclusion, what do we know about with humans. The principal thing move far into areas not inhabited the Danish wolves so far? that wolves need to be able to by other wolves; I call these ● Roe deer and red deer seem to be thrive in a place is plenty of natural “pioneer wolves”. It is such the staple of the wolves in Jutland. prey and in Jutland we have large pioneers that we are getting to In Germany, roe deer is the most populations of roe deer and red Jutland these years. Eventually, important prey species and red deer. So biologically speaking, couples will be formed and cubs deer the second most important. Jutland is undoubtedly a fine place born – which may, evidently, ● Wolves have taken several sheep, to settle for the wolf. already have happened. one goat and two calves. In ● The reason why we have so far only Germany, livestock only make up been able to photograph single Editor, Julia Bohanna: I would like to 0.6% of the diet of the wolves, with wolves is that wolf packs usually thank Mogens for this fascinating insight sheep being the livestock species don’t spread far, whereas single into an ongoing investigation. It’s an mostly attacked, and it seems we individuals do. Almost all young exciting development and one we at have the same pattern in Denmark. wolves of both sexes leave their Wolf Print will follow with keen interest. ● Jutland is characterized by what we parents’ territory at typically one to There is a Danish saying ‘Edre sent end call a “culture landscape”, i.e. a three years old to find a place to aldrig,’ which translates as ‘Delayed is landscape highly affected by human establish a territory themselves. preferable to never’ or as we know it in activity and without big, Some of these young wolves English: ‘Better late than never’. It’s unpopulated wilderness areas. become “distant dispersers”, i.e. extremely apt in this case.

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 19 Makingwolves in the media and the arts, Tracks brought to you by Julia Bohanna

THE DARK WILD electric prod. Most tellingly, Poor Kester Piers Torday, HB, 341pp, Quercus, RRP £9.99, ISBN: 978-1-78206-485-5 is weary of his human reaction to events – particularly when he succumbs to ‘The sky’s tears filled the great wet. cowardice and puts his friends in danger. And those waters spilled out over the He talks about being more like an earth.’ animal: presumably basic, decent and honourable. IN THIS second book of the Wild trilogy, Most honourable of all is The General, a cocktail of animal adventure continues, a cockroach of wisdom and undeniable with our hero Kester at the head. The courage. He is also droll at times, world is still in disarray, held to ransom particularly when he is asked to work by an evil corporation, Factorium. Kester with starlings and remarks sadly that is the Wildness – the goodness – and so cockroaches do not have a good history much hinges on his ensuring that the with starlings. Certainly the animals have world does not fall to The Dark Wild the most pithy lines – they are brutally instead. The Dark Wild has turned bad honest in many of the dangerous and is set on revenge against humans. situations, as Kester goes in search of Things need to be solved and pieces of the answer that lies in the Iris. What is the puzzle regarding the cure to the the Iris and why is it so crucial? But it’s plague that has affected mankind, need not going to be easy. As one of the to be found. With that in mind, we have animals says ‘Oh, bless my heart I don’t our heroic stag, a wolf cub with an angry fancy your chances much.’ It does mother, an eccentric mouse, a lonely rat indeed seem like Mission Impossible. and who could forget The General, a Will our hero succeed when he is stuck cockroach of enormous distinction and a in a tunnel in unbelievably true brave heart. claustrophobic conditions, in a fight or There are helicopters, chases and having to face his arachnophobia in the danger aplenty in this action-packed worst way imaginable? book, which never shies away from the The wolf too – in the guise of a wolf brutal realities, such as cullers out to cub who is growing up with our hero, destroy animalkind, or the evil plays a large role in the action. He has taxidermy-loving Selwyn Stone. In The his own issues, such as a mother who Dark Wild now too we have large mutant hates him for what she sees as betrayal. spiders that have grown that way eating Can their bond be mended? the horrible pink industrial food that is I won’t spoil any plot details here but doled out to the population. They, in The Dark Wild is a fantastic ride and I am their own words, have grown fat by so already excited for the last in the trilogy, many years in the dark tunnels. which I hope arrives soon! The Dark Wild runs at an enviable www.pierstorday.co.uk/ pace and there is humour and another interesting character around every Piers Torday was born in corner. The mouse is an adorable and Northumberland and has worked as a eccentric addition to the cast, full of producer and writer in theatre, live quirky behaviour and mischief. Humans comedy and TV. Recent TV writing have very much become the villains of includes Boomtown and Southside, both the piece, as they continue to use the for BBC Three. The previous novel ‘The earth and its creatures for their own Last Wild’ was nominated for over ten ends. As the toothless dog says, ‘Their awards, including the CILIP Carnegie own interests will always trump ours’. Medal and the Branford-Boase. It was The villains are gritty, wonderfully also shortlisted for the Waterstones named and we have already invested our Children’s Book Prize 2014. hatred in Captain Skuldiss but there is Wolf, by Vladimir Bologov now the masochistic Littleman with his Reviewed by Julia Bohanna

20 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT Ten things we want to know about The Dark Wild – an interview with Piers Torday, author

Your books are very clearly about in giving a few notes and a lot of consciousness (‘noble’ lions and ‘smug’ 1 how mankind is despoiling the support, which was what meant the cats etc.) and children are still environment in multifarious ways but most. He was very unwell while I was developing this facility. In fact, I’ve met you avoid preaching throughout. How writing the second, but I’m so pleased he lots of children with pet spiders and rats. difficult was it to adhere to that show got a chance to read it before he died, When I tell them about the cockroach but don’t tell element – especially if you and he enjoyed that a lot too. He was army, the first reaction is humour. If I feel strongly about environmental very careful to support me without can help one child develop a more issues? trying to influence how I wrote, he rounded view of these creatures’ role in I do feel strongly, like any sane and wanted me to develop my own voice. our ecology, rather than just fearing rational person, about environmental Having a writer as a father gave me huge them as pests to be exterminated, I’d be issues but I am in no position to preach. confidence in my own work, and he’s left delighted. From power to water, housing to food, a legacy which makes me very proud, so There is an interesting device I the massive growth in human population for me at least – it was a wonderful gift. 5 noticed in your characterisation – from our beginnings in 200,000 BC – We see our heroic narrator Kester animals’ habits, which we may find when it was around 10,000 – to the 3 grow in terms of maturity and repugnant or annoying, are used to seven billion (and growing) of today, purpose during this second book. Is he progress the plot or add strength to the presents us, the 2.5million species we based on anyone you know or is he narrative. Without giving too much still share the planet with and the simply a creation, an ideal hero? away, mice like to nibble things and it is biosphere itself with some big All characters writers create, from in nibbling something that the mouse challenges. heroes to villains, have something of the draws Kester’s eye to a hugely vital I don’t think any one person or author in them – otherwise we wouldn’t piece of information. Was this organisation has realistic solutions to the be able to write them. And in first deliberate? crisis of dramatic climate change and person narration, perhaps a hero like It was deliberate. Clearly, alas, talking competition for natural resources Kester has more of me. But only in his animals are a fantasy. Our coming down the tracks. It’s about a anxieties, doubts and fears (including, communication with even the most little more than putting out the yes, of spiders). His heroic qualities and intelligent ones is limited to simple recycling, and as ever, we left it all too his bravery are pure fantasy as far as this signals and conditioned responses. And I late. writer is concerned, although I hope they really do care about the real species in But for younger readers, in whose emerge authentically out of his this story, and I wanted readers to see hands the planet’s future resides, all I character’s development rather than just them as real creatures, not just human can do is ask questions. Do animals have being archetypally bolted on. characters in cartoon animal garb. So an equal right to share this planet with You have chosen a number of everything any animal does in these us? What is greater within us, the power 4 animals in The Dark Wild that are stories (as far as I am aware) is based on for consumption and destruction or the the antithesis of cuddly. Any one of research. Mice nibble and store things in ability to manage and conserve? And I them might make people cringe: rats, their pouches, wolves can hear howls always think rather than scaremongering cockroaches and spiders in particular. from a long distance, deer use their developing minds with totally bleak What reaction do you get from children noses more than any other sensory catastrophe scenarios (although there is when you read excerpts? organ and – believe it or not – squirrels no denying their power) as a writer of I would no more like a rat in my are known to have destroyed power fiction you can offer hope. Because, kitchen or a cockroach/spider in my bed lines by chewing through them. I may believe it or not, what I really feel is that than anyone else. But in their own stretch a capability to breaking point, human beings – through our curiosity, worlds, these creatures are wonderful. but that’s the joy of storytelling! ingenuity and humanity – do have the Rats are the only animals which show The wolf-cub is more central in The ability to overcome those challenges and empathy – in experiments, given a 6 Dark Wild than he was in The Last still make Earth a pleasant place to be. If choice of rescuing another rat or going Wild. What characteristics did you we choose. for free chocolate, a rat will always free consider most important when forming There are two meaningful father– the other rat first before going for the the wolves in the story? 2 son relationships in the trilogy. I chocolate. Cockroaches are not only Having extensively discussed the was very sad to hear that your own nature’s recyclers, but models of social environmental themes, and my desire to father (Paul Torday, author of Salmon cohesion in how they live – and is there keep the animals ‘real’ as possible, these Fishing in The Yemen) died late last anything more miraculous and beautiful stories are also about other things too. year. How much input and guidance did than a simple spider’s web? And one of those is friendship, and how he give you with this book and in the But our primal fear of things dark and that can change. At first the wolf-cub trilogy as a whole? crawling kicks in before we appreciate hates Kester for (accidentally) helping Thank you. Dad was a great help, them. We all project characteristics onto the stag kill his father. But as so often certainly in terms of the first book, just creatures that don’t share our happens, the most unlikely of people „

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 21 LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD? John Wilhelm is a It’s a classic composite. I Swiss photographer shot the single elements who enjoys playing (forest, girl, wolf) with Photoshop® to separately and put it all produce fantastical together in Photoshop. Edit elements, where process took about 2.3 animals and people hours. exist in situations that would not be possible What is the wolf made of? in real life. We asked The wolf is a stuffed animal John for a little standing in the Museum of information behind Nature Frauenfeld. the hyper-real image I love the mirroring of the of his daughter in the girl and wolf – their woods with a howling expression and body wolf: language. Also that she is barefoot and ultimately, very relaxed. What did your little It’s a wonderful, striking image, but also a joyful and girl think of the finished shot? positive one. We suffer a lot in wolf conservation at the She likes it a lot but couldn't find a link to the fairytale “Red hands of the Red Riding Hood fairytale – it seems to Riding Hood” :-) reinforce such negative stereotypes. Can you tell us something of the technical process behind the photograph? http://johnwilhelm.ch/

ƒ an interview with Piers Torday, author become great friends. Then, of course, meat is being developed. And of course face extinction without some mortality. they grow older and change, which tests culling can be a legitimate tool to Like the culling, I hope it provokes the connection – as often happens to manage disease in animal populations. debate. Many children in school want to school friendships around this age. So None of these things are intrinsically bad share with me stories of loved pets who that’s what I was exploring in the Dark by themselves, but I wanted to explore have died, and I hope that Polly shows Wild. for younger readers the idea of how them it is possible to survive and grow Using wolves in the story I wanted to easily the everyday can become from such loss, however sad. show this animal which so often features something more sinister – when we The General, that wonderful in fiction (including parts of my own) as choose to look the other way. I hope 9 cockroach, should have his own predatory, cunning, and savage. they might discuss, perhaps in class, spinoff book – he is such a little trooper. The Wild books lay open the idea whether culling (for example) can ever Are you working for cockroach PR? 7 of vast and corrupt corporations be justified? Now that is an idea… despoiling our land for profit and There is humour and sweetness in Where next for Kester? Also, ‘progress’. For example, there is Waste 8 The Dark Wild, particularly the 10 where next for you as a writer? Mountain, a funeral pyre to mouse who at one point does the When is the last book in the trilogy to consumerism. Culling will always be ‘Dance of Mousey Concern’. It’s a be published? controversial and we in the wolf world charming portrayal, but never I am currently writing the third book know all too well, it is used as an animal disneyesque. To illustrate the in the trilogy, called THE WILD BEYOND management technique across the seriousness of the message, you also do (out next spring). Kester has saved the world. Suddenly your fictional ‘cullers’ not shy away from death, cruelty and last animals, the humans in the last great must feel a little too real, a tad too darkness. What feedback have you had city, and now he faces his greatest close? from your young readers? How do they challenge yet. Can he and his wild save I did want to create a dystopia that respond to the animals being hurt or the failing planet itself? Expect some actually wasn’t a million miles away from killed? ocean and jungle action as well as the reality, and rather than invent loads of You have to be really careful. I still feel final resolution of everyone’s story. futuristic elements that may or may not bad about Sidney from the first book, Then after that, a totally different happen, like robot guards or something. and I’ve had a few responses from book, but I can’t talk about that yet! We do live in a world of globalised American readers who are horrified that multinational corporations that control any animals are killed in a book for Piers Torday was speaking to vast amounts of our food production. children. Death is simply a natural part Julia Bohanna From astronauts to athletes, formula of life and we shouldn’t hide from it. And food already exists, and the first fake I can’t really tell the story of animals who 22 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT AMONG WOLVES Gordon Haber's Insights into Alaska's Most Misunderstood Animal Dr Gordon Haber and Marybeth Holleman, PB, 310pp, University of Alaska Press, RRP £21.00, ISBN: 978-1602232181

ON 14TH October 2009, ecosystem as a whole. the wolf lost one of its Furthermore, Dr Haber’s fiercest and dedicated continuous research into advocates when Dr Denali’s wolves over a long Gordon Haber died in a period of time enabled us to plane crash in Denali see family traditions develop, National Park. As a keen just like they might do in outdoors man, Haber human families. was never satisfied with The book chronicles an watching simply tracking wolves extraordinary journey, where carefully three Toklat wolf cubs crossing with radio collars. He a river. At one point the adult wolves are had to be out in the on one side of the riverbank and the wild with them, often cubs on the other. To encourage the battling temperatures of up to cubs, one young female gets into the minus fifty degrees. No matter river and paws playfully. At one stage how cold it was outside, it never one cub seems to lose its nerve and seemed to bother him. starts to go back, but with further Among Wolves was written encouragement, tries again. One cub has using Haber’s extensive and managed to reach the other side but detailed field notes and journals, where the water is deep struggles to get as well as stories from friends who had the reader discovers wolves as they go on the bank. The cub is helped to safety worked closely with him. I found it an about their daily lives: family bonds, the by a female wolf and within an instant enchanting and captivating read, as if Dr raising of cubs and preparing dens for she darts back to help the other cub to Gordon Haber was sitting next to me their arrival and the devastating effects safety. She achieves this by not only telling me about his experiences and that trapping, hunting and predator jumping into the water and steadying many adventures. control management can have on these the cub against the current, but by using So what do we learn? The strong family units. Some of the dens in the young female’s body to climb on to fundamental driving question, extracted particular are complex in their structure reach the bank. This captured behaviour from Haber’s research, is twofold: Firstly, and some ancient den sites that have allows us to witness just how attentive how do wolves and their prey behave been inhabited by both wolves and and caring members of the wolves are and interact without having human humans at different periods. towards cubs, but is also an excellent interference? Secondly, what effect does Not only does this book enhance our demonstration of lupine levels of human interference have on wolves’ knowledge of wolves and their intelligence. social systems as well as on the behaviours but also complements it with Overall, this book was not only a ecosystems they inhabit? Dr Haber was some astonishing images that Dr Haber fascinating read, but more of an able to collect information on managed to capture while observing emotional journey, where the reader interactions between wolves and bears Denali’s wolves. For example, there is a shares Dr Gordon Haber’s passion and and analyse the dynamics of the beautiful image of an adult wolf love for these wolves. It will inspire, captivate and possibly anger you in places – particularly when you Wild Wolf Experience discover the disastrous wildlife tours in rural Spain impact that man can have on lupine family structure • Watch wolf, bear and lynx with our expert guides and survival. Most of all, it • Small group sizes • Tours throughout the year will give you a greater insight and understanding • Enjoy eagles, bustards and vultures of wolves. in unspoilt rural Spain Review by www.wildwolfexperience.com Francesca Macilroy (0034) 636 031 472/(0034) 620 351 514

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 23 Julia Bohanna reports

Wolf bangle

specialises in similar to silver, but with a satisfyingly animals and has chunky and almost medieval look. Marek done a great deal of was also working on larger works of art – work for various some of which I saw at the workshop, greyhound rescue such as a pewter rose arbour – every charities. The rose is layered and tweaked to be elegance of the original. A great feat of patience. greyhound lends Marek is genuinely passionate about itself beautifully to wolves and when he first came into the medium of metal, as do his owls, contact with the wolves up at the Trust, various other breeds of dog and eagles. I he was not expecting to ‘fall to his knees’ was fascinated how in each piece, there in awe. He is producing something of Wolf ring is the finest of detail – such as great beauty for us and with enormous delineation of the paws and even the love. A gentle man, who is extremely marking out of the ribs on the excited about having a lasting ON A WARM day heavy with the threat greyhound’s stomach. connection through his work, with of rain, I visited the Project Workshops in Marek has given us something unique animals he adores. These are exclusive Quarley, near Andover, which is not and wonderful for the Trust – a pewter designs for us at the Trust and, as such, generally open to the public. I peeked in wolf bangle and ring. He talked me we should also be very excited. on stonemason Robyn Golden-Hann, through the whole process: the choosing glassblowers Mark Taylor and David Hill of a non-toxic unleaded alloy of pewter www.metalstorm-uk.com who specialise in Roman and Georgian that contains tin and copper, the organic www.project-workshop.co.uk glass and the Talos Art Foundry. So much rubber for the mould – to the artistic talent! I was at the workshops to see beginning of the piece, taken from Julia Bohanna Marek Woźnica, a metal sculptor who is drawings, to the imprint into a rubber producing designs for a wolfy ring and mould and near bangle, exclusively for the Trust. the finale, the Marek was working with his father in careful pouring of metalworking before he was even a molten pewter in teen, so he has the industry ‘soldered’ to the mould. “You his heart. Pewter is now his favourite have to be careful medium and it’s such a lovely thing to not to pour it on handle, you can understand why. Like your shoes,” he many creatives, Marek spent time told me, with an earning a living in various roles: milking expression which cows and training as an engineer – revealed that yes, Wolf brooch before finding a way to devote time to it had happened something he truly loves. In fact, he and it was painful! utilises the engineering side in his What emerges from the cooled pewter You will soon be able to buy Marek’s wolf production of work, such as the rubber inside the mould is initially dull but after bangle, ring and other items from the moulds which are available to withstand an abrasive wash where it is polished in Trust. Keep an eye out on our website at temperatures of up to 400˚c. Marek a tumbler, it comes up to looking very ukwolf.org

24 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT wolves of the world The Youth of Today: meet wolf OR7’s new pups, as California How the wolf is thriving moves to protect species in Europe: wild wolf populations “WOLF PUPS do tend to gravitate toward clearings. It’s like your pet across the continent dog: They like to sit in the sun and ● The number of wolves in Switzerland warm themselves,” he said. “I got is uncertain, estimated at one or two. lucky, actually. I had been sitting ● In 2011, wolves were spotted in there for a while and I just happened Belgium and the Netherlands in to see some movement. They heard several locations. the sound of the camera waking up, ● In Denmark in 2013, three different and they ducked back in a little bit. lone wolves have been observed. They’re pretty wary little buggers.” – Based on sound recordings, one pair John Stephenson, US Fish and Wildlife least biologically speaking. He estimates has had cubs (see page 18). Biologist. the pups are about 5 to 6 weeks old. ● The Czech Republic has a stable and They probably were conceived sometime protected population of 20 wolves. e may only have letters and a in February and born in mid-April. The ● Greenland has a population of 20–100. number to his name, like R2D2 in biologists did not approach or handle the ● In France the wolf population is HStar Wars, but it has been pups or the two adult wolves, but merely around 40–50 individuals and growing. officially confirmed that the wandering observed them. ● Slovenia has an increasing population wolf [OR7] in California now has family! A mystery still surrounds OR7’s mate: of 70–100 wolves. The wild gray wolf that famously roamed wildlife officials don’t know where she ● Finland has an almost stable California in search of a mate is raising a came from. It’s possible she has been population of 97–106 wolves. litter of pups just over the state line in traveling with OR7 for some time. On ● Germany: there are around 150 Oregon, wildlife officials have confirmed. Monday, when biologists first observed wolves in 26 packs. The Oregon Department of Fish and the pups, they collected wolf scat from ● Estonia and Croatia: each has a stable Wildlife and the US Fish and Wildlife the area, and they hope some of it is population of around 200 wolves. Service homed in on the signal from from the female. The scat will yield DNA ● Greece and Portugal: both have a OR7’s tracking collar, photographing two results that could reveal where she came stable population of 200–300 wolves fuzzy wolf pups peeking out of a hollow from, based on comparisons with DNA ● Hungary has a stable population of log somewhere in the Rogue River– from other wolves. “In time, we’ll learn 250 wolves. Siskiyou National Forest. There may be quite a bit more about her,” said ● Albania has a protected and increasing more pups in the family, officials said, Stephenson. “But I suspect she’s a long- population of 250 wolves. because wolves typically produce a litter distance disperser like OR7 was. I was ● The Scandinavian Peninsula has a of four to six. surprised one made it all the way down population of over 300 wolves (official “If this pack persists and keeps and they found each other, but it number in 2012/2013 was 350–410), cranking out pups in coming years, sure, happens.” shared between Sweden and Norway. that puts a lot more potential dispersers OR7 was born into northeast Oregon’s The Norwegian population is located a lot closer to California,” John Imnaha wolf pack in April 2009 and in the south-east, close to the Swedish Stephenson, who captured photos of the collared by ODFW on Feb. 25, 2011. He border, and consists of c. 30 wolves. pups. left the pack in September 2011, Sweden has a protected population of Even better news: at a meeting the travelled across Oregon and into around 300 wolves. same day in Fortuna, the California Fish California on Dec. 28, 2011, becoming ● Lithuania has a population of 300–400 and Game Commission voted 3–1 to the first known wolf in that state since which are increasing in number. protect any future Golden State wolf 1924. Other wolves have travelled ● Slovakia has a stable population of residents under the state Endangered further, and other uncollared wolves 350–400 wolves. Species Act – even though there are may have made it to California. But ● Bosnia and Herzegovina is thought to none currently residing in the state. OR7’s GPS collar, which transmits his have a population of 400 wolves. “There is no species more iconic in the location data several times a day, ● Serbia and Montenegro has a stable American West than this one, the gray enabled wildlife managers to track him population of 500 wolves. wolf,” said commission president closely. Since March 2013, OR7 has ● In Italy, wolves are protected, with Michael Sutton. “We owe it to them to spent the majority of his time in the estimates at 500–700 wolves (or up to do everything we can to help them re- southwest Cascades in an area mapped 800, according to other sources) colonize their historic range in this on ODFW’s website. ● Latvia has an unprotected population state.” of 600 wolves. Stephenson said OR7’s family can Source: ● Poland has an increasing population of officially be considered a new “pack,” at Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 700–800 wolves. „

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 25 Has New Hampshire become a ‘Dumping Ground’ for Wolfdogs?

NEW HAMPSHIRE wildlife officials are some weighing more than 200 pounds – have all been spayed or neutered and wrestling with a proposal that would put and that wildness sometimes is right on vaccinated, which the law requires, and them in charge of wolf-hybrids; those the surface. “We have one wolfdog over are all kept in large pens, with 8-foot are wolves that have been bred with here named Rosie who has really taken a chain-link fences. Basically, right now, domesticated dogs. they are treated like These sometimes domestic dogs: they have dangerous animals are to be licensed with local often abandoned authorities. The because they can be Department of Agriculture unmanageable as pets. has rules that require wolf- And a population of hybrid owners to neuter, abandoned wolfdogs vaccinate, and keep them prompted New in pens with tall fences. Hampshire officials to But Ag says it has never take another look at an enforced these rules, animal that falls squarely because it doesn’t have in the grey area between the resources to do so. wild and tame. “We don’t have the Most dogs have many manpower or the money generations of to be going around domestication in confirming that between them and their somebody’s wolf hybrid is wild roots. Wolf-dogs neutered or to look to see have just a few. liking to me and Matthew,” he says what kind of pens people have for these “They have that wildness to them, during a tour of the paddocks, “but yet animals,” Fish and Game Director Glenn that’s just hard to get out of them,” says one of the other guys can’t even go in Normandeau told lawmakers, “I mean Tanner Brewer, who manages the state’s the cage. He had been in there three of that’s not what our department biggest wolfdog sanctuary in Chatham, four times and she got his boot one Whatever lawmakers decide, there are up on the Maine–New Hampshire day… just bit his boot.” 69 wolfdogs on the Maine–New border, near Conway. Brewer, a big guy and an army vet, Hampshire border, where they will live He’ll tell you that many wolfdogs act works for the New England Wolf out their lives. just like dogs, whimpering and begging Advocacy and Rescue Center, or “It’s our responsibility, we made them for attention, but they can be huge – NEWARC. He says the 69 animals here this way. We made them this way so they have a right to live just like anything else,” opined Tanner, listening to the ƒ wild wolf populations wolfdogs howl behind him, “And as long Three new wolf litters as there’s places that are available, than in Europe born in Norway it makes no sense to even think about ● The Republic of Macedonia has an putting them down.” THREE NEW wolf litters were born in increasing, yet unprotected So for now, NEWARC will be there for Norway last year: two in Hedmark and population of 1,000 wolves. wolfdog owners who find they’ve bitten one in Østmarka outside Oslo. The ● Bulgaria has a stable population of off more than they can chew. Norwegian Parliament’s objective is 1,000–1,200 wolves. Original Source: New Hampshire that the Norwegian wolf population ● Belarus is home to a population of Public Radio (www.nhpr.org/post) will produce three new wolf litters 1,500–2,000 wolves. This edited article: By Sam Evans- each year, but it is treated as such by ● Ukraine has an unprotected, yet Brown, TWIN Observer. the court. stable population of 2,000 wolves. Read the full article here: The goal has been achieved in the ● Spain’s wolf population is estimated http://www.timberwolfinformation.org/ past four years, reports NRK at 2,000 and growing. nh-has-new-hampshire-become-a- Hedmark. It is Rovdata and University ● Romania has an increasing population dumping-ground-for-wolf-dogs/ of Hedmark collaborating with of 2,500 wolves. Editor’s note: The issue of wolfdogs is tracking and mapping the wolf with ● Turkey has population of about 7,000 raised on pages 32–33 and a seminar at the help of DNA analysis of faeces and wolves. the Trust in September will discuss it hair. ● Although wolves in Russia have no further. Source: www.sverigesradio.se legal protection, they number 25,000– (and translated by TWIN Observer) 30,000. Photo: Wolfdog, by Kirsty Peake

26 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT RADIOACTIVE WOLVES THRIVING IN AFTERMATH OF CHERNOBYL

IN 1986, possibly the worst disaster in throughout the forests. The indigenous For humans this land is lost, but the living memory happened when the population is thriving in a habitat where wolves and other wildlife can survive in nuclear power plant at Chernobyl no humans can survive. Abnormalities safety and peace in the shadow of the exploded with the force of 400 have declined and the overall density nuclear disaster. Hiroshima bombs. The explosion caused and health of the lupine population is total devastation to 100 square miles surprisingly better than in clean areas. Wendy Brooker around the reactor and radioactive dust This is a unique ecosystem thriving Source: Amazing World, January 2014 to fall thousands of miles away. Years normally, in fact more successfully than later, survivors who lived outside the outside the exclusion zone, despite the 100 square mile exclusion zone near the lurking danger of the radioactive CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S reactor are still suffering the after- fallout. The soil is heavily contaminated, LIFELINE CHARITY effects of the radioactivity. Scientists which in turn contaminates plants, can only remain in the zone for a very trees, insects, birds, and anything that This charity (see www.ccll.org.uk), brief period of time wearing protective predates on them. The whole food which was founded in 1991, clothing. Shells of cities, houses and chain is affected and radioactivity is focuses mainly on the Belarus area factories have been left as a terrible demonstrated in the 50-times normal of Russia which received 70% of the reminder for future generations of the deposits in the bones and fur of animals radioactive fallout from the horror of a nuclear disaster. tested by scientists conducting “near to Chernobyl nuclear explosion in Miraculously, nature has triumphed reactor” research. This idyllic habitat 1986. As a result of the over adversity and created a lush has been solely created by nature. radioactivity thousands of children wilderness – a modern Garden of Eden Prior to the disaster the grey wolves born every year go on to develop – safe from human intervention! Plants were plentiful but ruthlessly hunted, thyroid cancer, bone cancer and and trees now occupy the ruined with the alpha females specifically leukaemia. buildings. The bison and wild horses targeted. Now scientists are monitoring once again roam the contaminated 17 packs with a population of about 120 On Wednesday, May 14th, ten landscape. Beavers have returned to wolves. The wolves utilise old children from the region visited the the forests, restoring marshes for abandoned buildings to build safe dens Wolf Trust and had a fantastic time wildlife; finally birds and insects are for their cubs. Scientists have studied watching the wolves and learning populating the wilderness toxic to cubs in the dens and taken fur samples all about them. They were so humans. Most importantly, the final link to determine the level of radioactivity thrilled to be so close to wolves. for an ideally balanced ecosystem has and some wolves are radio-collared to Any time spent in a clean air returned: the apex predator, the grey monitor whether they ever move into environment is extremely beneficial wolf. Once more haunting howls echo clean areas outside the zone. to the children’s health.

Conservationists rally outside Yellowstone to protest wolf hunting

A RALLY to protest sport hunting and beaten to death,” rally organizer Brett 1,700 due to liberal hunting and trapping trapping of wolves in the United States Haverstick said in a telephone interview. seasons and population control drew about 150 participants on Saturday Haverstick said roughly 150 people measures by states such as Idaho. [28th June] outside the gates of attended the rally, with participants Ranchers and sportsmen say wolf Yellowstone National Park, an organiser coming from a range of US states such as numbers must be kept in check to said. Demonstrators at the event in Idaho, Montana, California and Florida. reduce conflicts. Gardiner, Montana, at the northwest Wolves neared extinction in the Lower “Livestock producers have made many entrance to the park called for an 48 states before coming under US concessions to accommodate wolves on overhaul of government wildlife Endangered Species Act protections in the landscape and the result is we have a management policies for the animals. the 1970s. Federal wildlife managers two healthy wolf population and yet a Thousands of wolves have been legally decades ago released fewer than 100 decrease in cattle depredations,” said hunted, trapped or snared in the three wolves in the Yellowstone area over the Jay Bodner, natural resource director for years since the predators were removed objections of ranchers and hunters, who the Montana Stockgrowers Association. from the federal endangered and complained wolves would prey on threatened species list in the Northern livestock and big-game animals like elk. Reporting by Laura Zuckerman in Rockies and western Great Lakes. Wolves in the park and its border Salmon, Idaho, “We need some places out West states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis, Bernard Orr where wolves can be wolves without were estimated at nearly 2,000 at the fear of being shot, trapped, strangled or time of delisting and now number about ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 27 The Ethiopian Wolf – An Encounter

As long as I can remember I have been interested in wildlife conservation and travelling. I decided to take a break from the rat race for six months, striving for hands on work with animals. Because of my profession in IT, I knew I couldn’t get the dream job of raising wild tiger cubs in the Bengal jungle but instead I decided to use my skills to try to make a difference.

AFTER SPENDING three months in Sierra Once in Bale I met with Zegeye, the went hunting. After an arduous trek we Leone developing the IT systems and Ethiopian Wolf Conservation arrived at our destination. The trackers website for the Tacugama Chimpanzee Programme (EWCP) local education arrived on horseback from their daily Sanctuary (www.tacugama.com), I coordinator. I felt optimistic about my job of monitoring the behaviour and decided to visit the Bale Mountains in chances of seeing a wolf after I was movement patterns of the wolves. We pursuit of a glimpse of the rarest canid informed that the wolves had had one all settled in a typical Ethiopian Tikulu in the world – and arguably the rarest of their best breeding seasons in recent hut where we quickly started preparing carnivore in Africa – the Ethiopian Wolf years. Zegeye understood my budget the local cuisine of injera bread and (Canis simensis). There are estimated to constraints and organised a guide for a beans, to exchange tales of encounters be fewer than 500 individuals surviving budget two-day trek. Zegeye was clearly with wolves. The trackers can identify in seven isolated mountain pockets of an experienced wolf tracker who knew most of the wolves individually and are the Ethiopian highlands. These wolves the vast landscape like the back of his familiar with their behaviour and are precision, solitary hunters that hand. With some help from his personality. It quickly became apparent prefer diurnal rodents, most of which colleagues, Zegeye mapped a route and just how important this knowledge of are also endemic to the Afro-Alpine. even arranged for me to sleep the wolves’ relationship within the Their primary prey is the giant molerat overnight at the EWCP camp where the ecosystem and their movements was (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus) which wolf trackers spend every night when for carrying out surveys or inoculations. are marmot-like creatures unique to on duty. We set off at first light next morning. Bale. The molerat weighs arounds 900g I met with my guide, Mohammed, at After trekking at a slight uphill for an and provides a handsome meal. Other 8am, when clear skies and a cool breeze hour we reached another plateau from prey of the wolves includes grass rats made for ideal trekking conditions. where we could see on one side Arvicanthis blicki, Lophuromys Most of the eight-hour walk on the first uninterrupted Afro-Alpine moorland for melanonyx, and Starck's hare Lepus day was relatively flat with a slight over several kilometres and on the starcki. incline. We crossed a river and other side lush rolling green hills. To the Ethiopian wolves will also hunt hares, scrambled onto a plateau, now on the south east, around three kilometres hyrax and small ungulates. Sanetti plateau, renowned for having a away, we could see a pack of wolves My objective was to observe these healthy population of Ethiopian wolves. already checking us out: ears upright wonderful rare wolves whilst trekking in The Afro-Alpine moorlands of the and tails half raised. We were the Bale Mountains National Park Sanetti Plateau are the largest downwind and our scent had reached (which is also famous for animals such continuous area of its altitude on the the wolves before we could even get to as Menlik’s bushback, mountain Nyala entire continent of Africa. the high point. As soon as we stopped and Bale monkeys). The park The plan was to get to the camp and walking and turned in their direction, encompasses an area of approximately leave at first light the next morning to they started to nudge away from us 2,150 km2 and was nominated in 2009 give ourselves the best chance to see looking back disgruntled. It was a pack for the World Heritage Tentative List. the wolves in their packs before they of eight healthy wolves and I didn’t see

28 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT any young. We stood there support of the UKWCT, admiring the wolves as the EWCP has seven they disappeared out of wolf monitors in the sight. field at all times. These A wolf appeared from monitors follow the behind some dense wolves collecting data vegetation no more than on their behaviour, 300 metres from us. We breeding success and froze. The wolf looked at health. In addition, us and jogged cautiously in two vet teams from a semicircle around our UKWCT work hard to position, not once breaking vaccinate over 6,000 his eye contact with us. He domestic dogs against now started to bark, howl rabies each year in and yelp – a curious sound villages surrounding after listening to wolves’ the wolf populations. howls at the UKWCT. We were now patiently observing us, making sure we The ongoing education programme turning on our heels to ensure we don’t did not return. Needless to say, the works with local schoolchildren, lose sight of the wolf. The wolf then entire experience was surreal and teaching them the value of started coming back on itself before exhilarating. It is by far the closest I conservation and instilling a sense of disappearing behind a ridge. We had have come to a wild animal of this size pride and ownership in the Afro-Alpine clear view of an Ethiopian Wolf for over in its natural environment. I will carry in general and, in particular, in the 45 seconds. this rare glimpse of the endangered Ethiopian wolves. EWCP, along with Adrenaline-fuelled, we cautiously wolf to the grave and I would like to UKWCT, also conduct outreach work approached the ridge to try and see thank the EWCP and UKWCT for within the local communities to teach where the wolf was going, but by the facilitating a truly unforgettable them about the dangers of rabies and time we got there we could not see experience. encourage them to get their dogs anything; it had gone back into the Ethiopia currently has the fastest- vaccinated. dense vegetation from where it growing human population in Africa. It was extremely satisfying to see all emerged. We waited to see if it would The increasing presence of humans in the hard work carried out locally in aid remerge but to no avail. the Ethiopian highlands creates of saving the Ethiopian wolf. The As we started our trek home, we complex challenges for the wolves. The donations from UKWCT being put to noticed the lone wolf sitting in the same most serious threat is posed by contact worthy use. Long may this relationship spot from where it had first emerged with domestic dogs that carry diseases continue as the wolves need all the with its ears upright watching our every such as rabies. The Ethiopian wolves are support they can get. move. Mohammad and I decided to not still classified as critically endangered Since 2007 UKWCT and has donated get too close to the wolf or consciously and their struggle to revive their over £23,000 to EWCP and supported make it uncomfortable by our presence, numbers continues. them to conserve this endangered wolf so we slowly started heading back to However, there is still hope, with 75% and its Afro-Alpine habitat. the EWCP centre. We kept looking back of the Ethiopian wolf Afro-Alpine at the wolf that appeared to be habitat now protected and with the Rohit Wadhwani

Photos by Rohit Wadhwani

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 29 Wolfy gifts and souvenirs ECO-FRIENDLY GREETINGS CARDS AND ENVELOPES £2.20 Vibrant colours and top quality art are features of Tree Free greeting cards. The cards are made from 50% recycled paper, the envelopes from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and both are printed with soy-based inks. Inside, all the cards have a tinted version of the front and the envelopes are also printed front and back with coordinating designs. Card size: 17.5cm x 12.5cm. Cards B, C and D have no greeting. A D

B C – Wolf Sunset

A – ‘From the Pack’ birthday card. Inside, the greeting reads “Today, D – Loving Wolves the whole pack celebrates you. B – Wolf Reflection Happy Birthday!” C

REEVES UKWCT HOWLING WOLF KEY RING SCRAPERFOIL £4.49 FOB £3.00 Engrave this beautiful A 4cm keyring fob inset with a howling picture in silver. Just wolf silhouetted against a full moon scrape away the printed and surrounded by red and blue lines with the tool pawprint motifs and the words “U.K. provided to reveal your Wolf Conservation Trust”. own engraving. Shown actual size, 4cm x 3.3cm. The kit contains 1 pre- printed board, 1 scrapecutter and handle, EMBROIDERED BADGE £3.75 1 practice piece and full Designed exclusively for the Trust, this instructions. You will badge features a howling wolf also need a duster to silhouetted against the moon with brush away the “The UK Wolf Conservation Trust” scraped-off ink. around the upper part of moon and Size: 21cm x 31cm. the Trust’s website address Recommended for underneath. Great for rucksacks and ages 8 and up. cycle bags. Size: 7cm x 5cm.

3D COVER NOTEBOOKS £2.60 EACH Choice of four different covers for this spiral-bound notebook. 60 blank white sheets. Size 9cm wide x 14cm height. Back cover blank. E – Four-wolf family F – Seven wolves G – The wild one H – Wolf howling G E F H

30 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT DUFFLE BAGS £4.25 EACH HOWLING WOLF JUNIOR T-SHIRT £12.00 A Navy blue Gildan T-shirt designed exclusively for the Trust. It features a howling wolf's head silhouetted against the moon with “The UK Wolf Conservation Trust” around the upper part of moon and the Trust’s website address underneath. The design, which is printed in a metallic, silvery-white ink, is completed with a scattering of stars. Printed on front of t-shirt only. 100% pre-shrunk cotton. Wash inside out at 40°C. Do not tumble dry. Iron inside out. Sizes: J XS (age 3–4) chest size 26", S (age 5–6) chest 30", M (age 7–8) chest 32", L (age 9–11) chest 34", XL (age 12–13) chest 36"

K SUMA WOLF £9.00 A supersoft plush wolf toy by Suma Collection. Not suitable for children under 36 months. Wipe-clean surface. 21cm.

WILD REPUBLIC ‘CUDDLEKINS’ WOLF £12.00 A plush wolf that can be moved into different poses. 30cm height and length. Wipe clean with damp sponge or cloth. WOODEN CARVED WOLF Tag includes QR code for information PEN £2.60 about wolves. Not suitable for children under age 3. Length 18cm. Each pen is carved individually so minor variations from the image shown may occur.

L

Large black, pull-string fabric duffle bag available in three different designs. One side is printed in full colour, the other in white on black. Size 52cm x 39cm. J – Blue moon K – Green eyes L – Watery moon

ORDERING & DELIVERY To view and order any of these items and our other stationery, clothing, Please note: all UK orders are subject to a minimum books, gifts and souvenirs, visit our online shop at www.ukwolf.org or P&P charge of £4.50. For overseas orders, please call 0118 971 3330. contact us.

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 31 Living in the World of Wolves, Wolfdogs and Wolf lookalikes: a CAPBT/UKWCT Seminar

THE FASCINATION with wolves and dog. This then is the problem for some their behaviour has led to an increased owners. The other challenge is that as interest in these majestic animals. these are not really domestic dogs, Many people wish they could have a these breeds can be a huge step wolf – I was one of them! As a child I sideways into the unknown. wanted a golden eagle and a wolf. I Over recent years members of ended up with a bunch of terriers and a CAPBT (COAPE Association of Pet parrot! Behaviourists and Trainers) have seen Where there is a need there will be an increase in the number of puppies someone or something to fill it. This is attending their classes that are either what has happened in this case. A lot of ‘lookalikes’ or wolfdogs. Sadly, people have gone for ‘wolf lookalike’ members are also seeing these as dogs such as a husky, Alaskan behaviour referrals from veterinary Malamute, Innuit or even a Tamaskan. practices with which they work. Not easy dogs to fit into the modern In 2009 Jacqui Jones and I ran a very day style of living but many have successful seminar covering this topic. successfully achieved this. In light of an apparent increase again in Some have gone a step further and the number of these puppies we have taken on a Czech Wolfdog or a Sarloos decided to run it again. This time at the Wolfdog or even a wolfdog. DEFRA wonderful venue of the UKWCT, where We feel that there are a lot of does lay down regulations regarding delegates can study the wolves. people wanting to ask a lot of the breeding of these but there is no Hopefully we will also have some questions about this. We have genetic test to show whether a lookalikes and some wolfdogs owned therefore decided to have a section of particular animal is more wolf or more by UKWCT Director Sue Hull. the day on theory but also a section

32 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT A CAPBT AND THE UKWCT present a Seminar on LIVING IN A WORLD OF WOLVES, WOLFDOGS AND WOLF LOOKALIKES to be held on 14th SEPTEMBER 2014 from 10am to 4pm at UKWCT, BEENHAM, READING RG7 5NT

This seminar will explore the The cost is £26 background of wolves, wolfdogs and to include tea/coffee but please wolf lookalikes. Comparisons will be bring your own lunch made to the evolution of the domestic The UKWCT is offering a limited dog. This will help prospective owners number of Wolf Walks at this event identify the needs of these dogs and at the cost of £42 per person. understand whether or not they are the ideal pet for their circumstances and Booking essential for both seminar help current owners get a better and wolf walks understanding of their pet. It will also help trainers and behaviourists get the Please click here for information on best out of these dogs and help their how to pay: clients work in harmony with their pets. http://capbt.org/UKWCT/

All photos © Kirsty Peake

Speakers: Kirsty Peake – Specialist Advisor with Jacqui Jones – Senior Behaviourist the UKWCT, Chair of the CAPBT, Senior with Alpha Dog training based in the Behaviourist with Pet Matters South West. Jacqui is an assessor with www.petmattersdevon.co.uk. Kirsty the APDT (Association of Pet Dog spends approximately six months a Trainers). She has had numerous run as a question and answer session year studying wolf behaviour in wolfdog puppies attend her classes. where delegates can ask questions Yellowstone National Park. She has also She has also worked with ‘Lookalikes’. not only of the panel but also of other spent some time with Czech Wolfdogs Sue Hull: Director of the UKWCT. Sue delegates who will include members out in Bavaria and has worked with has a lifetime of working with dogs and of the CAPBT. ‘Lookalikes’ and wolfdogs in the UK. owns huskies and two wolfdogs.

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 33 Answering the Call of the Wild: wolf howl project THE WOLF’S howl is one of the UK Wolf Conservation Trust is helping most hauntingly lovely sounds in us to do this by having volunteers record nature, familiar from dozens of the wolves howling and then sending us Hollywood films and nature the recordings. This is great news for the documentaries. Wolves howl for Call of the Wild Project. In particular, of many reasons, including to bond the 1500 howls we already have, less their pack together, to gather than 50 are from Arctic wolves. Arctic individuals before a hunt and to wolves are rarely kept in captivity and stay in contact when they are Pukak, Sikko and Massak love to howl so separated. Research has shown we’re hoping that will change soon. that a Also, because the wolf’s …does Mosi still sound like other Trust have different howl is Canadian wolves or has she subspecies all howling unique to gained a European accent from to each other, it that means we can explore being kept with Torak? individual whether wolves’ and that we can identify individuals howls change when they hear other by their howls. Rather as human wolves howling. The human equivalent is voices quickly become familiar to a baby girl born in Britain but brought up us, so that we know it is our in Australia will have an Australian mother on the phone without accent, but as an adult, her ability to sing seeing caller ID, wolves know the a high C (or not!) will be the same as it voices of their family. When they would have been in Britain. So we ask howl, they advertise who they are questions such as: does Mosi still sound and to what pack they belong. like other Canadian wolves or has she As scientists, we eavesdrop on gained a European accent from being these howls and, by analysing them kept with Torak? Do the packs all have using specialised software, we can their own unique sounds? And UK Wolf examine how these differences Trust is helping to answer them. arise and find what defines an Finally, the Call of the Wild project individual’s voice. By building up a aims to develop a means for recording collection of howls, we can tell wolf howls in the wild and then count what qualities are distinct to how many wolves are howling and track individuals and what is true of all individuals from one night to the next. wolves – so do male wolves howl Over time, we hope to have samples deeper? Do different subspecies from every wolf subspecies and country have different howls? Do wolves where they are present. For now, we’re have regional accents, so Russian delighted to have UK Wolf Trust howling wolves sound different to Polish for us! wolves and different again to Greek wolves? Are these Holly Root-Gutteridge differences inherited or learnt? And do they change with time? Holly Root-Gutteridge works at There are so many questions yet Nottingham Trent University and is to be answered. That’s where the building up as big a collection of wolf Call of the Wild Project comes in. howls as she can. Using an ME-67 We aim to collect wolf howls from microphone – which is directional – as many places as possible to build along with a microphone cable, up a picture of differences across recorder box and video camera Holly individuals, subspecies and even records individual howls. She around the world. The project has carefully notes the time of day, collected howls from Poland, Italy, weather conditions and makes notes Greece, Russia, Denmark, Canada of anything that might explain the and the USA. We have already reason for the howl, for example, if analysed over 1500 wolf howls and Mai went on a walk and Motomo we’re always adding more. Torak, by Pat Melton started to howl for her.

34 | UKWCT WOLF PRINT Forthcoming events at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust

Monday 11th August, 11am to 3pm, with Michelle Paver, children’s author CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS Monday 27th October, 11am to 2pm, with children’s author Piers Torday

These creative writing days include talks given by Michelle Paver (author of The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series) on 11th August and Piers Torday (author of The Dark Wild – reviewed on page 20 – and its prequel The Last Wild) on 27th October on writing fictional stories and the best way to research characters.

You will then go on a wolf walk, followed by a tour of the Trust and a chance to watch the wolves in their enclosures. After writing your own short story Michelle (11th August) or Piers (27th October) will give you additional tips and advice. Children (minimum age 7) must be accompanied by an adult.

Booking essential. £23 per person per day. Arctic Ambles Photography Days Weekend – including Wolf Walk: Sunday, 12th October 10am to 4pm: £150pp 27th July, 9th and 24th August, 13th and 28th September, Weekday – without Wolf Walk: Thursday, 25th September 11th and 26th October 10am to 3pm: £80pp 9am to 11am Enjoy a walk with our magnificent Photograph all ten of the Trust’s wolves, including our amazing Arctic wolves and the wonderful Arctic trio. photographic opportunities they Our photography workshops are held when the wolves are at their most provide. charismatic. We start with a brief presentation setting the scene and giving you background information about the wolves and the Trust. You View all of the Trust’s wolves and will then have time to photograph the wolves either in their enclosures spend time getting to know the or – on weekend dates only – out on a walk. handlers who work with these amazing animals. Open to photographers of all abilities and standards of equipment. Participants must Afterwards, there will be time to be 18 years or older. Full details on the shop for a wolfy souvenir! website. Maximum 12 people. Spaces are limited – so book early. Check our Booking essential. website for full details and availability. £60 per person, age 18+ WOLF VIEWING & BAT WALK 20th September at 6.00pm • £15 • Booking essential ● Tour the Trust and see our wolves up close ● Wolf photography opportunities and howling session ● Presentation by an expert on the life of bats in the UK ● Walk round the Trust at dusk to see long-eared bats flying The Trust is home to many bats, many of which live in nesting boxes on trees

ISSUE 52 SUMMER 2014 | 35 UKWCT WOLF CENTRE ‘VISIT WEDNESDAYS’ Open from 11am to 4pm OPEN Visit Wednesdays give you the opportunity to come and see the Trust without pre-booking, unlike our other events. You will be able to observe our ten very charismatic wolves – from our three Arctics with their amazing white coats, to our enigmatic black Canadian wolves – and have a guided tour with one of our knowledgeable volunteers. There will be fantastic photographic views of the wolves in their large, natural-looking enclosures and you’ll have access to the raised photographic platform on site. If you’re lucky you may even hear them howl! We have picnic areas for warmer days, a gift shop for you to browse for books and souvenirs, and plenty of free parking. Children’s Activities During the school holidays there will be additional children’s activities on Visit Wednesdays, including: ● lino printing, quizzes and colouring. ● Quirks Animal Roadshows will be running a hands-on session with creepy crawlies and giving two talks during the day called Rainforest & Endangered Species. ● There will also be a number of seized items from customs on show, such as crocodile items etc.

ADMISSION: Adults–£8; Members, children (age 3–12) & OAPs–£5; Children under 3–FREE. Tickets on the gate only. Sorry: no dogs on site.

PREDATOR DAY Wolf Keeper Experience Days 18th September and Thursday 2nd October 27th September, 10am to 4pm 10am–4pm, maximum 8 people per day. The ultimate experience for See behind the scenes at the Trust and shadow the keeper in tasks animal and wildlife enthusiasts: Spend a whole day with the including cleaning out the wolf enclosures, preparing food and world’s most powerful feeding the wolves. Get involved in our wolf enrichment programme, and enthralling predators… walk with wolves, snap up great photo opportunities and receive a wolves and raptors. souvenir event certificate of your day. £150pp – booking essential The morning includes a two-hour Check our website for other dates, full details and to book. walk with wolves around the Trust in beautiful Berkshire countryside. There will be 12th September, 10th October, 7th November & 5th December – at 7.00pm ample opportunities for photography on the walk as well as handling and flying the birds of Feel your backbone tingle and prey in the afternoon. There will also be time to Friday your ears vibrate with the see and photograph all the wolves at the Trust sound. The evening starts with a including the UK’s first Arctic wolves. Night presentation on wolf Our Predator communication; you will then go Day is the only on a tour of the centre and have way in the UK to is the opportunity to let out a howl walk with wolves and see if the wolves respond! in the morning £10 per person. Booking and fly a hawk in Howl the afternoon. essential. (Don’t forget to dress up warmly for an evening under £120 per person. Minimum age 16 Night! the stars). Booking essential Please bring a packed lunch

Full36 | UKWCTdetailsWOLF PRINT of all events at www.ukwolf.org or to book call 0118ISSUE 51971SPRING 3330 2014 | 36