WolfThe UK Wolf Conservation Trust PrintIssue 42 Spring 2011 Compassionate Conservation by Camilla Fox Life in the puppy lane at Wolf Park USA

The Trust's new resident: MOTOMO ■ NEWS ■ EVENTS ■ MEDIA AND ARTS ■ REVIEWS Wolf Print

Editor Vicky Allison-Hughes Tel: 0118 971 3330 Email: [email protected] Assistant Editor Julia Bohanna Editorial Team Angela Barrow, Sandra Benson, Tsa Palmer, Denise Taylor

Published by The UK Wolf Conservation Trust Butlers Farm, Beenham, Reading, RG7 5NT Editor's Letter Tel: 0118 971 3330 Fax: 0118 971 0522 Email: [email protected] Patrons irst of all, let me take this opportunity to wish you Cornelia 'Neil' Hutt all a Happy New Year. You'll notice that there is Erich Klinghammer Desmond Morris a new face introducing Wolf Print this time. My Marco Musiani F Michelle Paver name is Vicky Hughes and I have been involved with the Trust for the last five years and for the last two and a The UK Wolf Conservation Trust Directors half years as assistant education officer. Last August I Nigel Bulmer Anne Carter took over from Toni Shelborne as education officer at Charles Hicks the Trust. This is my first issue of Wolf Print as editor; Sue Hull I've been on the editorial team for the last two and a Tsa Palmer half years and am relishing the new challenge. I hope Specialist Advisors you enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed putting it Alistair Bath Claudio Sillero together. Denise Taylor

The UK Wolf Conservation Trust is a company The format remains unchanged: there are still articles limited by guarantee. Registered in England & Wales. from around the world, including this time two articles Company No. 3686061. appropriate to the time of year, covering both the The opinions expressed in this magazine are not breeding season and the hand-rearing of pups at Wolf necessarily those of the publishers or The UK Wolf Conservation Trust. Park in the United States. The old favourites are still here, including the book and artist reviews under All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English or other languages, is Making Tracks, details of the donations we have made prohibited. The work may not be photocopied or otherwise produced within the terms of any licence granted by the Copyright supporting wolf projects, and up-to-date information Licensing Agency Ltd or the Publishers Licensing Society Ltd. on what our wolves have been up to with all the details of the new wolf at the Trust! Aims of the UK Wolf Conservation Trust · To increase public awareness and knowledge of wild wolves and their place in the ecosystem. There are loads of events planned over the next few months including Wolf Keeper Days for children and · To provide opportunities for ethological and other research that may improve the lives of wolves both in adults, and lots of Easter holiday fun, as well as special captivity and in the wild.

events planned to celebrate all those mums and dads · To provide wolf-related education programmes for who deserve an extra treat. Included in this issue are young people and adults. the dates for our 2011 open days and a couple of dates · To raise money to help fund wolf-related conservation to go in your diary for later in the year. projects around the world.

Download Wolf Print, including back issues, Vicky Allison-Hughes from www.ukwolf.org

Education Officer / Wolf Handler / Wolf Print Editor Design and artwork: Business Pluspoint www.businesspluspoint.co.uk Tel: 0118 988 5530 email: [email protected] Printed by: Pensord, NP12 2YA. www.pensord.co.uk

Printed on FSC paper from sustainable forest sources. 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 home recycling collection scheme or at your local recycling centre. Visit www.recyclenow.com and enter your postcode to find your nearest site. Cover photo: Motomo, by Joan Paddick

2 UKWCT WOLF PRINT 4 6 14 contents

REGULARS

2 Editor's Letter 16 Life and Behaviour of Wolves Breeding Behaviour and Processes 20 Making Tracks Artist and book reviews 23 Wolves of the World 26 Merchandise 22 Wolf gifts and souvenirs

NEWS FROM THE TRUST

4 Wolf Awareness Week 6 Director's Letter, Donations & World Animal Day 8 Update on the Trust Wolves

FEATURES

10 Wolf Sister: meeting Michelle Paver Julia Bohanna interviews the award-winning author 12 Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Laurel Walker explores the myths surrounding wolves 14 Life in the Puppy Lane Pat Goodmann reports from Wolf Park, USA 18 The Mexican Gray Wolf: saving a subspecies Angela Barrow reports 30 Compassionate Conservation Camilla Fox blogs from a recent conservation symposium

WHAT'S COMING UP 27 31 Special Events at the Trust Open days, holiday activities, howl nights and more

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 3 Slovakia and surrounding countries from imports of working lines from Italy Sunday October 17th saw the Robin Rigg of the Slovak Wildlife Society. It provided by Janet Atkins were immensely most glorious weather for the is amazing to think of these places, so close popular and really looked the part. The start of Wolf Awareness Week. to home, that still hold all those iconic sheep, courtesy of a local farmer on the The red kites wheeled overhead species that once graced our own country. other hand were a bit more of a challenge. We will probably never see them back here Repeated attempts failed to get the small in the brilliant autumn sunshine but it means a lot to know that they are flock into the pen and the "bear proof" and the wolves were howling still roaming the forests of Eastern Europe electric fencing and fladry turned out to be particularly melodiously. thanks to the hard work of people like no match for them. After they had broken Robin. out for the umpteenth time, smashing one of the posts in the process, it was decided The final event enough was enough whereupon the little of the day was flock glared balefully at the dogs and us a real first for from the far corner of the field. this country: Richard Undeterred by recalcitrant sheep, Richard Morley of the gave a very interesting and informative talk Wolves and on the use of various devices to prevent Humans predation by the wolves. The UKWCT Foundation, wishes "Wolves and Humans" every luck an old Wolf with its fantastic "White Dog" project and Society hopes to become more closely involved in colleague of the future as this is such a mine, gave a huge and important part of talk and enabling people to live demonstration alongside large carnivores; Lunca and Latea prepare for a walk on the various not just wolves, but bears means of and lynx as well. The day started with a walk through the preventing predation by wolves on fields with Lunca and Latea, our two domestic livestock. This really led to some All in all, a really enjoyable European females. After an initially slightly fun and games! Richard had brought day with plenty of interest spooky start the two girls thoroughly electric fencing and fladry and had for everyone. enjoyed themselves. Back in the warmth of arranged for some livestock guarding dogs the education room, and after a hot drink, and sheep as part of the launch of the After Sunday's activities the everybody settled down to the first of the group's "White Dog project" aimed at rest of Wolf Awareness four talks of the day. This was given by promoting the use of canine livestock Week continued in the same Kirsty Peake and was an update on the guardians to prevent wolf predation. The vein. The main aim was to Fladry demonstration Yellowstone packs. Although a little two beautiful Maremma dogs, both educate visitors about traumatic in parts, this was a fascinating wolves and some of the insight into the behaviour of truly wild many problems the animals wolves in a near pristine wilderness, albeit face in the wild. We were one where a degree of management takes open for members of the public and Trust place. members to visit us on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. This set a Following a delicious lunch we were precedent for the Trust and we received treated to another update, this time on a some good feedback from those able to real favourite of mine, the Ethiopian wolf, attend. by a true expert in the field, Claudio Sillero. There is just something about those wolves On the Monday we hosted both Robin and their beautiful environment that Riggs from the Slovak Wildlife Society and makes me melt. One day I really do plan to Richard Morley from Wolves and Humans. go out there and see them for myself. I am Both groups appeared for a second day, just so proud that the UKWCT has been jointly talking about the newly launched able, at least in a small way, to help in their White Dog Fund and the different methods long term survival. of livestock protection.

We then learned something about the Left: One of the five Maremma livestock current situation for large carnivores in guarding dogs that visited the Trust; two on the Sunday and three on the Monday. 4 UKWCT WOLF PRINT Wolf willow scupture by Caroline Gregson

On the The final three days of the week were taken up with private Tuesday events so were not included in our activities for Wolf Awareness Open Day we Week this year. had willow sculptor We would like to thank all those who have supported us in our Caroline activities during our first Wolf Awareness Week. We look forward Gregson on to announcing our plans for 2011 and hope for your continued site creating support. a willow wolf for us, which Sue Hull, became our Director newest resident at http://www.carolinegregson.com/ Fladry demonstration the Trust. http://www.slovakwildlife.org/ Caroline has http://www.wolvesandhumans.org/ enjoyed and been inspired by the All photos: natural world since childhood and now works in willow to create Vicky Hughes animals and other living forms. The finished wolf can, during the dryer months of the year, be seen standing next to the Remembrance stones for our departed wolf friends.

On the final of the three Open Days we hosted an art workshop run by well known Hampshire-based wildlife artist Jane Pascoe- Absolom. Jane creates beautiful pieces of work featuring magnificent wild animals. A small group worked away all day in our then unfinished drafty pole barn, with the wolves in their enclosures for company and inspiration. Participants only emerged for some warmth and a cup of tea. The group created some fantastic pieces of work based on a photo of a very young Dakota, taken by Monty Sloan from Wolf Park, USA. Monty kindly gave his permission to use the photo from which Jane and the other artists could create their own tributes to our lovely Dakota Jane Absolom at work on a who we lost to ill heath in 2010. picture of the young Dakota

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 5 n behalf of all of us (directors, staff Goodbye... him so on the third day we put Mai in the and wolves) at the UK Wolf On the wolf front we sadly lost Alba (left) large enclosure with Motomo. It's early OConservation Trust I would like to days as I write this, but indications are that thank you for either renewing or taking out they seem to accept each other and are membership for 2011. It's good to know comfortable in the same enclosure and that both the Trust's work and information have been seen playing and running we provide are meaningful to you. You will around together. We obviously hope that continue to receive three editions of Wolf this "arranged marriage" will not only Print a year, a colourful publication packed solve Mai's loneliness but could lead to the with up-to-date news about our wolves, birth of cubs. Duma might then be a wolves around the world, diverse opinions, wonderful surrogate mother to these cubs and stories of first-person experiences and when they are a few months old - this, encounters with wolves. Additionally, however, is all speculation and hope, but it members are entitled to discounted would be a wonderful outcome. admission on Open Days and Wolf Dakota by Matt Booth Awareness Week. Through your support Throughout 2010 I have made a point of you encourage us in our work to advance and Dakota (above) in the early part of the visiting and talking to all those places in the survival of wolf populations and also year. These losses were keenly felt by all the UK that keep wolves and it is clear that care for the wolves at the Trust. our members and volunteers; Dakota and the number of North American wolves Alba were much loved - they both had kept in captivity in this country is wonderful and charismatic characters and decreasing as birth control methods are did invaluable work in the education more commonly used than when Roger programme with all our visitors. Then, as and I first started keeping wolves in the the autumn progressed, the balance of the 1970s. On top of this, most collections are Canadian pack began changing; Mosi's no longer North American wolves but relentless domination of Mai increased to European wolves, as they are indigenous such a level that in order to prevent an to the UK, and also the more endangered injury to one of the three wolves we Iberian wolves. So it became apparent that concluded that we had to separate Mai if we wanted to continue to keep North from Mosi. In the wild Mai would no doubt American Wolves we would have to breed have left the pack and as a lone female some cubs ourselves. This we have done

Alba by Dominic Earl wolf would have hopefully met up with a once before when we imported the young male and had a family. Having European wolves Athena, Apollo and Luna Our 15th Anniversary Year separated her, we then set about trying to from Romania and they produced a litter 2010, our fifteenth anniversary year, saw a find her a suitable male from a wolf facility of cubs including Lunca and Latea and Alba year of changes and consolidation at the in the UK and thus it was that on in 1999. The new barn area will make a Trust, both in terms of staff and wolf December 1st Motomo arrived at the Trust great space to bring up cubs should they changes, and improvements on the site. as a prospective suitor. materialise in 2011 or in later years. Vicky Hughes has stepped into the role of Wolf Print Editor and Education Officer Membership of BIAZA with great enthusiasm and aplomb. She As well as celebrating our 15th successfully masterminded and organised anniversary year with the launch our first Wolf Awareness Week in October, of our new website last June, in which is reported on the previous two November we were accepted as pages, as well as designing the exhibits in an associate member of BIAZA our new education building. We now have (British & Irish Association of Zoos

our very own wolf den for children to and Aquariums). BIAZA is the crawl into and explore; the building will be professional body representing ƒ a wonderful addition to the Trust and will the best zoos and aquariums in have multiple uses as an exhibition space Britain and Ireland, members of and as a teaching centre for educational which pride themselves on institutions to use whilst visiting the Trust, excellent animal welfare, Motomo by Joan Paddick allowing students to spend more time with education and conservation work. us and carry out projects and practical ...and Welcome Being accepted as an associate member of work surrounded by our inspirational After spending the first night alone in the BIAZA will allow the Trust to move forward environment and animals. It will also be of large bottom enclosure we put Mai knowing we have recognition from a use when hand-rearing wolf cubs, and for alongside Motomo in the holding pen to leading professional body for the work we workshops and talks on open days, freeing see how they responded to each other. All are doing within the fields of education, up the current education room and shop the signs that Mai and Motomo were conservation and animal management. We for visitors to see our wide range of giving off were encouraging and we could look forward to working within the BIAZA merchandise more easily. see Mai was calm and not indifferent to team in the future.

6 UKWCT WOLF PRINT World Animal Day n celebration of International World who is also a patron of the Trust. Animal Day, the UK Wolf Conservation Michelle is best known for her book ITrust held a wet and windy Open Day series the Chronicles of Ancient on Sunday 3rd October. This year we Darkness, which is about a boy's fight for decided to celebrate British wildlife past survival alongside his wolf companion. and present, and considering the weather we had a good turnout of supporters. The Trust, which is usually open to members only, opened its doors to the general public for the last of its 2010 Open Days, as family groups and visitors from all over the UK came to enjoy the day. The wolves as usual were centre stage and the public enjoyed the photography sessions and talks outside the wolf enclosures. As well as the wolves, other animals were on display, such as birds of prey, huskies, and an Martin 'Wolfie' Adams giving a assortment of British wildlife including demonstration to some young fans Reindeer at World Animal Day bats, hedgehogs, harvest mice, reindeer and otters. You can read an interview with Michelle on page 10. Photos: Joan Paddick Lots of activities kept everyone busy including archery, nature trails, pond The weather improved for the last part of dipping and a howling competition. We the afternoon allowing everyone had a darts demonstration from world involved a chance to dry out! Proceeds champion Martin 'Wolfie' Adams, a great from this year's event will be going to supporter of the Trust, and a variety of projects supported by the UK Wolf Donations wildlife talks and exhibits. There was Conservation Trust which are helping to storytelling, and a wolf mask competition keep wolves in the wild. Update for the children which was judged by During the final quarter of 2010 the award-winning author Michelle Paver, Vicky Hughes UK Wolf Conservation Trust was able to donate £3000 to the Balkani Wildlife Society, Bulgaria, and £2000 to the Accordingly, they would like us in 2011 to ƒ Chisty Les Biological Station in Russia. move to operating under a Zoo Licence. This money will allow these projects to This makes no difference to our day-to- continue with their superb work. With day running, as we will still only have these sums included the Trust, with your visitors by appointment. It does mean a help, donated a total of £28500 during lot of paperwork and form filling, and a 2010 to worldwide projects helping larger fee for yearly registration, but that wolves. In November we welcomed 18 keepers and is what is required now for us to operate! staff from Wildwood, The New Forest The freezing temperatures of the last few The projects that benefited in 2010 Wildlife Park, and Isle of Wight Zoo. This weeks have made life difficult for Clive were: was a full day workshop of the care and Readings our wolf keeper; extra work in management of wolves and had great thawing out the wolves water buckets feedback from the staff from these zoos and also clearing ice and spreading rock Bulgaria - Balkani Wildlife Society that attended; we intend to invite all those salt around the paths and car parks, as £5000 places in the UK who keep wolves to well as keeping the work experience Croatia - Zagreb Veterinary attend a larger workshop this November, students busy and warm. To Clive and Institute £4000 thus bringing all those that look after Vicky, as well as Lynn and Donna in the Ethiopia - Ethiopian Wolf Project wolves in the UK together to share office, and all the many volunteers, I wish £5000 knowledge and experiences. to record the thanks from all the Greece - Human Dimensions in Directors for all their hard work. Needless Wolf Management £6500 New Zoo Licence to say the wolves look superb, eating very Russia - Chisty Les Biological West Berkshire Council, who license us large quantities of meat, deer, beef and Station £4000 under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act to chicken - they are well and truly spoiled!! USA - Red Wolf Coalition £2000 keep the wolves, recognise that the Trust is USA - Mexican Wolf Fund £2000 increasing its amount of visitors from I wish all of you a very happy new year schools, colleges and organisations such and hopefully an exciting year to come Thank you all for your support in raising as the People's Trust for Endangered here at the Wolf Trust. these funds which are vital to help Species, Wildlife Trusts, Police Handlers, wolves in the wild. Battersea Dogs Home and many others. Tsa Palmer, Director.

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 7 inter has now well and truly set bodied or disabled, giving everyone the feed in a more natural manner. These in; not that the wolves mind - opportunity to understand more about her include the creation of a 'deer', the frame Wthey are in their element in the kind. of which is made out of sticks, covered in ice and snow, and certainly look at their straw to make a deer shape and stuffed best in their magnificent winter coats. with tasty treats. These They have seen a few changes since the take a lot of time and last issue of Wolf Print, including a new thought to put together addition to the Trust. Read on for more and are happily destroyed details. by the wolves in a matter of seconds! Both girls are again being supportive next door neighbours to Duma and the three have recently started being taken out together for enrichment walks to give Duma the chance to spend some time with other Lunca wolves.

The Canadian pack of Mosi, Lunca and Latea have continued to Mai and Torak have seen the biggest be busy. They covered the majority changes since the last edition of Wolf Print. of the members' walks during Mosi has kept her higher ranking position October (while Duma was having and by the end of the summer it was clear some time off) including the walk for that her jealousy towards Mai would see the Wolf Awareness Week seminar no end and the dominance towards her Duma in October. They continue to delight was becoming more and more aggressive. members who are now getting the After initially thinking the behaviour was opportunity to meet them up close, linked to the start of the hormone rise in Duma is now in her 13th year, looking well and they in turn are relishing the work. the run up to the breeding season, we and enjoying life. After battling her way With both the girls having been spayed decided to try Mosi on a course of through ill health relating to the breeding two years ago to reduce the affects of their hormone suppressants to see if it would season, Duma was spayed last October to seasonal hormones, and no male this year help, unfortunately this had no effect and prevent any further problems occurring. for them to fight over, Lunca and Latea will it was evident that Mosi saw Mai as a She had two weeks off work relaxing in her threat to her position, so enclosure so that we could be sure of a was trying to drive her good recovery, but she was very happy from the pack. when the two weeks were over and she could start meeting people again. We will On the evening of the 4th continue to watch her closely to ensure October, Mai was she stays in good health. She has been nowhere to be seen. enjoying living in the middle enclosure Wolf keeper, Clive with the European girls on one side of her Readings, became and Torak, Mosi and Mai on the other. concerned when she still From this vantage point, she is able to did not appear for her survey the site and keep an eye on what dinner. He spotted Mosi we're all up to. Since our new arrival in and Torak on top of the Latea December, she now has next door enclosure mound, and neighbours again. Lunca and Latea will be they appeared to be swapped between the holding area and be stepping up again to help Duma and looking into the den that had been dug main enclosure to ensure that they and take on their share of the members' walks during the breeding season. After putting Duma all get a chance to make use of the during the breeding season whilst the the pair safely into the holding area, Clive larger space. Duma is still enjoying the other wolves are off work. Both of the girls went into the enclosure to investigate company of her favourite handlers in her have been enjoying the wolf keeper days Mai's whereabouts. As he approached the enclosure and, as always, being an over the autumn as they have been den she could be heard inside but would outstanding ambassador wolf, meeting recipients of a number of novel feeding not come out. Help arrived and it was people from six years upwards, able methods designed to make them think and decided the only thing possible was to dig

8 UKWCT WOLF PRINT Mai out. Digging started and after several Torak and Mosi have settled into life as a shovelfuls of clay had been removed, some pair. Mosi has been keeping close tabs on earth must have fallen inside the den as a Mai while she was living next door but the frightened Mai rushed out. She was aggression diminished as Mosi realised limping and we could see a wound on her that Mai was no longer a threat. While upper thigh which had been inflicted by Duma was having some time off after her Mosi or Torak. operation, and Mai was recovering from her leg wound, Torak and Mosi took on Torak the weekday walks, meeting college and school students. Torak especially delighted the students by allowing them to meet him and, although he's not as patient as Mai or Duma, and it takes him a few more stops on a walk to meet the whole group, he's still a very impressive wolf. Mosi and Torak will be having some time off during February for the breeding season. Motomo Mosi is now much more settled with no competition for Torak's attention.

Mai has been quite content living alongside her former pack mates and over the last few months she has begun to regain Eventually, Mai allowed a some of the confidence she lost collar and lead to be put on and she was through Mosi's dominance. Like walked onto the yard of the kennel block Duma, she loves every bit of so her wound could be inspected. It was human company that she can get decided by the vet that the wound would and she thrilled two weekday Motomo and Mai heal without intervention. Mosi and Torak groups in late November when were let back into the main enclosure and she decided to stop and howl on the walk, only pausing long and even playing. Mai is certainly enough to greet each new appreciating the company and Motomo is person. In early December benefiting from Mai's confidence around Mai was moved down to people and is settling in well. the bottom enclosure with the pond as we had Vicky Hughes managed to find her a mate, Motomo. All photos Vicky Hughes except Latea, by Pete Morgan-Lucas Motomo arrived at the Trust on Wednesday 1st December from Combe Martin Wildlife Park. He is a Mosi North American-type wolf and was born on 19th May 2008. His parents are Mai was put in the holding area to allow Cheyenne, who originates from the line of her to recover. Mosi appeared satisfied Howletts Canadian wolves, and Yana that she had driven Mai from the pack and whose descendants are thought to have settled down with Torak. If we had tried to come from Longleat Safari Park. In the reintroduce Mai there would have been Native American language, Motomo means the possibility of even more aggression "he who goes first"; quite appropriate as from Mosi, and maybe even the loss of a he is the first of his litter to leave Combe wolf. For reasons of his own, Torak has Martin. Motomo is an unsocialised wolf so chosen Mosi and shows no interest at all in will not be carrying out the same work as Mai. The three were moved to the top the other wolves at the Trust; he is purely enclosure with Mai living in the holding here to keep Mai company. We look area and Mosi and Torak in the main area. forward to getting to know Motomo and So, we ended up with a second lone wolf watching how his relationship with Mai and as Mai is only four years old, it would develops, so far all seems to be going well be a long and lonely life for her so the between the pair; they have been decision was made to find her a mate of spending more and more time together, her own. walking round their enclosure side by side Mai

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 9 Wolf Sister: meeting Michelle Paver

At one of Michelle Paver's writing workshops for children at the UKWCT in October last year, Julia Bohanna was able to chat to Michelle about her Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series. The timing was fortuitous: she had just been awarded The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize for Ghosthunter, the last book in the series, and which Julia had reviewed in an earlier edition of Wolf Print. Ghost Hunter, and the other books in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Series are available from the UK Wolf Conservation Trust at www.ukwolf.org

10 UKWCT WOLF PRINT odest as ever about her then meticulous about rewriting ('The considerable accomplishments, hardest part.') She edits for pace, making MMichelle Paver talked about the every word work for its supper. Writing origins of the Chronicles of Darkness series takes up to six hours a day; some days are initially as a simple concept. Appropriately more productive than others. As for enough for novels set in pre-history, where research, Michelle does not dip into language would have been more Wikipedia when she wants facts for her straightforward, more basic, she began with books. She isn't even a fan of email. She just five words that encapsulated a world: prefers her research to be authentic and Boy. Wolf. Girl. Bear. Forest. But those who something she has preferably experienced have followed the adventures and firsthand - usually by travelling to places that tribulations of Torak and friends will know approximate the places she creates. These that their journey developed into a rich and places have included the wild cold expanses complex one. of Scandinavia, Finland, Greenland and Northern Canada; places where encounters So how did Michelle first become involved with bears and the feeling of fear have all with the UK Wolf Conservation Trust? been part of the experience. The geography, Doyle tired of Sherlock Holmes and The book Wolf Brother came first; it was however, is often only the starting point, as murdered him at Reichenbach Falls, but did during a publicity drive for it that she sought she alters the topography to suit the story. reluctantly succumb to public pressure to out the Trust for some photographs of Research is always a means to an end - the resurrect the famous detective. Michelle is herself with the wolves. story is the important thing. determined and disciplined about her work. Her fictional characters may initially begin What did the visit mean to her? The devil is truly in the detail - no senses are their lives containing elements of real She describes the experience as 'Completely neglected in any books in the series. In her people - she admitted that Wolf had some magical.' She even got to keep some of the children's writing workshop, artefacts were personality traits shared by her own sister - wolves' fur. Her eyes light up at the memory passed around the room that might easily however, in that peculiar and mercurial - getting close to Duma and Dakota was 'an have been part of Torak's world: an magic so often documented by novelists, the enchantment.' exquisitely crafted glove made of reindeer characters often develop their own lives and skin that had a strong musty aroma of the sometimes even dictate their futures to their Of course, that first meeting led to a long creature it once was, a stone age axe that creators. This was certainly true of Renn, association with the Trust and ultimately had become smooth and weathered to the and Michelle had to redo the plot of Spirit Michelle becoming a patron. But when new touch by hunter-gather hands, a reindeer Walker to reflect it. cubs arrived in Beenham, it seemed fitting antler. These are more than keepsakes. It is to name one of them Torak. Michelle very important to her not to neglect any of Favourite character? remembers bottle-feeding the young male the senses when she writes - so her world is Michelle will admit that Wolf is her favourite cub, with one hand under his tiny belly. a visceral one. She breathes it as she writes. character and that she might chose Raven What many people may not know is that as her own clan with their 'Moderate when one of his sister cubs, Mika, sadly died, On her research trips she has previously attitude to ceremony and religion.' Also, that Michelle created Shadow in Ghosthunter as spoken about learning to carry fire in there is more than a little of herself in Torak. a memorial to her. smouldering fungus rolled in birch bark. She is also not shy about trying foods that Torak And the successful route to publishing? So which other writers and classic books might have experienced: seal meat There is no fast track way of course but good have inspired Michelle's work? And why (including raw liver) and spruce resin, the advice from Michelle would be that despite wolves? latter of which is a type of Stone Age possible rejection, 'You have to pick yourself She can remember asking for a wolf aged medicinal chewing gum. It is the equivalent up.' Also, that 'I never think of the audience ten - but like many children asking for of an actor absorbing themselves in a role when I am working.' Clearly, writers should inappropriate pets in a city - not getting one. they are about to play; a type of literary write for the love of it in the first instance She was already greatly influenced by method acting. and the passion will show in the work. Kipling's The Jungle Book but also later by Jack London's White Fang and The Call of the Although there is a blend of the fantastic and Newest project? Wild. Wolves, of course, are centre stage in the very real in Michelle's work, she is A book for adults - Dark Matter, an Arctic all of these novels, so it's not surprising that always concerned with accuracy. For ghost story set in the 1930s. Published by any young reader might become besotted. example, the phases of the moon have to tie Orion. Also in the mix was an Oxford contemporary up and be consistent, wolves have to be the of C S Lewis and Tolkien: Roger Lancelyn right age to be sexually mature and have In conclusion, it is clear that Michelle is a Green, who wrote about such things as cubs. There are to be no continuity dedicated writer, passionate about wolves, Norse legends and King Arthur. Add in an 'bloopers.' but also a refreshing intellect. She also interest in American Indian tales and these speaks for the compulsion of all true authors varied mythic influences were to greatly If Michelle goes the distance (quite literally) when she states that: 'You are miserable shape the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. to create a sensually authentic world that when you are not writing…so you just keep she is passionate about protecting, she then writing.' For all her fans, long may this So what kind of writer is Michelle? has to be strong when sent letters from fans continue. It may surprise many, when most of us who may have their own ideas about how succumb to being junkies of technology, that the stories unfold. Many writers of well- Michelle's website: www.michellepaver.com Michelle prefers to pen her initial drafts in known and loved characters often have to longhand. 'It feels freer,' she admits. She is face this dilemma. After all, Arthur Conan Julia Bohanna

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 11 Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

12 UKWCT WOLF PRINT ‘The Wolf doth something named the louveterie, in which specialised the wolf as a merciless killer continues, fed hunters tracked down wolves in return for perhaps by the myth of the werewolf. every week that keeps him exemption from military duties. King Edgar This was more than a wolf; it was a man from the church on Sunday.’ of England demanded a payment of three hundred wolf skins a year from the king of a man who changed at the full Old English Proverb Wales, and the ruler of Scotland offered an ox for any man who could kill one of them. moon into a ravening beast.

For centuries, the wolf has been And so the bloody trail of slaughter went who changed at the full moon into a despised as a creature of evil, a down through the centuries, never abating ravening beast. The first werewolf sighting stealer of children, and a or showing mercy, relentless in its cruelty. was in Germany in 1591, in the woods despoiler of the battlefield dead. 136 wolves were killed in Yellowstone nearby the town of Bedburg, which was Why? Laura Walker investigates. between 1914 and 1926; at least eighty of the site of numerous savage murders, so these were only pups. The last Texan grey horrifying and brutal that they were deemed wolf (Canis Lupus Monstrabilis) was killed too vicious to be the work of any mortal. In the Bible, Jesus described himself as a in 1942; in 1943 the last wolves in shepherd, protecting his flock from the Wyoming and Colorado disappeared for The locals of Bedburg cornered the culprit wolf. T.H White's collection of 12th century good. The Mexican wolf (Canis lupus one night, seeing it to be a huge, wolf-like Latin stories, The Book of Beasts, asked us: baileyi) made its last stand in the 1970s, creature. But then, under closer 'What can we mean by the Wolf but the and the last of the grey wolves (Canis inspection, it reared on its hind legs and Devil?' and Lord Byron wrote of an enemy Lupus) disappeared from Texas in 1970, was found to be a local farmer, Peter 'coming down like a wolf in the fold.' from Arizona around 1975, and from New Stubbes. After being tortured on the rack, Mexico, 1976. he confessed to practising black magic But nearly 50,000 years ago, according to since he was twelve years old, and said many zoologists, the wolf was the first As for the UK, the last wolf in Scotland is that the Devil had given him a wolf skin creature to be domesticated by our said to have been killed in 1743, by the belt. When he put it on, he claimed to be ancestors. We brought them into the hand of a hunter named Macqueen. The able to transform into 'the likeness of a warmth of our fires, fed them, trained wolf was said to be pitch black, and had greedy, devouring wolf, strong and mighty, them to hunt for us and serve us. We bred apparently killed two children crossing the with eyes great and large, which in the them to take many forms for our different hills with their mothers. Naturally, night sparkled like fire, a mouth great and purposes; to guard our homes and family, Macqueen was supposedly a man of wide, with most sharp and cruel teeth, a to help us find food, and, eventually, to fearsome strength and stature, and of huge body, and mighty paws.' hunt and kill the very creature we first course, he kept the 'best deer hounds in admired enough to take from the wild - the country.' He apparently decapitated He confessed that, in this guise, he had the wolf itself. the creature, for fear it 'might come alive murdered fourteen children, including his again, for they are precarious creatures!' own son, and two pregnant women. His It began when we first started farming Yes, and gold rained down from the execution is one of the most brutal known, food and keeping livestock. Suddenly, the heavens that night, along with he was subjected to various tortures wolf was no longer a symbol of birth and leprechauns. This story was dubbed before being decapitated, along with his death, a proud hunter to be admired and 'history' by the man who published it in daughters and mistress. His severed head respected, It was a threat to our animals - Victorian times, and if there's any truth in was placed upon a pole with a figure of a a killer. So we began to hunt, and that tale, I'll fight the wolf myself. wolf upon it, as a warning to any who conceived ever more vicious ways of killing would follow in his footsteps. them. But why? Part of it is surely that we feared the wolf was a threat to our livestock, and So, perhaps the answer to why humans the entire month of January was that we believed it was depleting the herds feel such fear of wolves is there. Perhaps it devoted to the wolves' slaughter of deer we wanted to hunt ourselves. But was not just the decline of caribou and still, how did such a relatively shy, gentle deer that worried us, maybe we sought our Wolves were shot, trapped, poisoned, creature acquire such a reputation as a own ghost stories, and were horrified at burned and bludgeoned. They were fearsome man eater? Not even much more what we found. Perhaps, upon seeing such captured, infected with mange, and sent vicious predators, such as bears or lynx violence and savagery among our own, we out into the wild to pass on the disease have such a history of fear around them. strove to free ourselves from it. Perhaps before dying. They had their jaws wired so For, despite all the rumours of man-eating wolves were merely the scapegoat for they could not eat, to die a lingering death wolves over the years, only in a very few humanity's own cruelty. by starvation. They were blown to bits by cases have the attackers been pure, guns; pups were dragged from their dens healthy wolves. Most of the reported Laura Walker and slaughtered in cold blood. Strychnine attackers are either suffering from rabies sulphate was injected into carcasses of or a similar disease, or are being fed by Laura Walker was born in Liverpool and every type, killing off millions of the poor humans nearby. A great many of the now lives on the south west coast of creatures as they came to scavenge. wolves said to be attacking humans are not Scotland, where she also writes poetry and pure wolves, they are wolf dog hybrids, fiction as well as articles. She is a keen In Anglo-Saxon England, the entire month which can be much more vicious given the animal lover who enjoys studying the of January was devoted to the wolves' combination of a bigger, heavier predator natural environment. She currently lives slaughter, and was known as Wolfmonat, that has lost its fear of man. Over the with a springer spaniel, a rabbit and a the Wolf Month. In France, Charlemagne years, there have been very few chipmunk, and raises funds for animal created an order for the killing of wolves, unprovoked wolf attacks. But the legend of charities in her spare time.

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 13 Life in the Puppy Lane

WOLF PUPS Tilly, Gordon, Dharma and Devra arrived at Wolf Park, USA, on 10th May 2010. Pat Goodmann, senior wolf handler and the Park's primary behavioural researcher, charts the challenges and fun, joys and sorrows of the pups' first summer.

IFE DURING SUMMER 2010 sponsors, and some adult wolves. Kailani through. We piled up blankets for them largely revolved around the pups, and Ruedi were first to meet the pups. and got some of their toys. For a while Lwho arrived at Wolf Park on May Kailani turned into a boneless heap of they were entertained just by being carried 10th, along with Kathryn Lord and Nathan happiness - until the pups tried to mount around and shown what was on the Hall (and Monty helping with the her. At that point she proved that even shelves, out of reach. With all the transport). The pup-raising crew this year with little pups she'd stare and growl if excitement the pups began acting like came from our research group out of the they behaved inappropriately. Ruedi overly-tired toddlers: pestering each other, University of Florida, plus Katherine who concentrated a lot more than Kailani did losing their tempers, etc. We had to fall helped raise pups for us in 2005 as part of on teaching the pups that 'no means no' back on age old methods to get them to her doctoral research. The 14-day-old pups the moment he set paw into the nursery. calm down and nap - we rocked them and were nursing from bottles, but little Devra, But despite his growls and hasty evasions sang to them. Yes, the puppies had a 'play the runt of the litter, when they tried to list'. The familiar tunes helped mask other was not terribly swarm him, he noises that might frighten them. Their play interested in a bottle. With all the excitement the repeatedly refused to list included the theme song from 'The Pink Katherine and pups began acting like leave when we, Panther'. Eventually, the storm passed, the Nathan had to use overly-tired toddlers thinking he might be sun made a curtain call for sunset, and we many skills to overwhelmed, offered took the pups back to their outdoor persuade Devra to him chances to exit. nursery. nurse, but once she started she nursed At one point he lay down in the pups' voraciously until reaching her wee kiddie pool; Gordon climbed in and tried to As the pups grew, they graduated from maximum capacity. Tilly, the largest of the curl around Ruedi's head in what looked liquid formula to zoo chow, dead mice and four from the start, easily maintained her like an affectionate embrace. rabbits, then finally chunks of deer. Mice status as the largest pup all summer. were initially more exciting than zoo chow. Our pups were exposed to many Then mice were eclipsed by bunnies, but They quickly grew larger, including little thunderstorms, as is typical in Indiana's bunnies paled in comparison to deer Devra. The researchers documented early summer. They did not seem fazed by pieces. milestones in the pups' development and the storms at all, but one carried so much did some cognitive testing, which they threat of tornadoes that we scooped up Devra, who challenged her foster parents' tried to make fun and enriching for their the pups and took them to the office ingenuity to get her nursing from a bottle, young wolves. The pups met many people, basement. There they could be become very enthusiastic about food both male and female staff, volunteers and entertained while the storm passed during weaning. She was born to be a

14 UKWCT WOLF PRINT carnivore, and started growing fast. Walks were also an occasion for them to Despite this growth, she remained get better acquainted with Wotan significantly behind in physical through a protective barrier. He made it development compared to her siblings. apparent that he is not a 'kid person' Unfortunately, she was doomed by a when it comes to small puppies; he congenital abnormality involving a lack of considers them to have 'cooties'. But as blood vessels to her liver. We had concerns he sniffed them, walked along the fence about Devra's health, but we did not know beside them as they travelled along his something was seriously wrong until she fence, we could see he was getting more collapsed and died suddenly on June 21. It accustomed to being with them. When was a shock to all of us; she had seemed to he was finally introduced to them we put feel particularly well the night before, the pups and Kailani, Wolfgang, Ruedi, playing as if there were no tomorrow. and Wotan in a large natural enclosure at East Lake. Wolfgang and Ruedi Through it was hard to come to terms with regurgitated 'hot lunch' for the pups - who ZooMontana people. Gordon is joining his Devra's death; life went on for the rest of were too excited to stop and eat it. Wotan sister from his parent's 2009 litter there. the pups. They continued leash lessons. growled and showed his teeth repeatedly Their first lessons but the pups NOTE: As of 1st October both pups had were in an area his face lost much of its respected his rules travelled safely to their new homes. where there was worried look and he and were soon long grass and waiting for the 'okay' Pat Goodmann weeds. This followed the pups around. to touch him. Twenty- www.wolfpark.org restricted how fast two minutes into his the pups ran, minimising the risk of the first pup visit Wotan's tail began to wag, Wolf Park is a non-profit organisation pup suddenly taking off and being jerked his face lost much of its worried look, and dedicated to education and behavioural to a stop when it reached the end of the he followed the pups around. He still liked research which benefits wolves and their leash. By helping restrict the pups' it best if they did not turn around and try canid relatives. The Park maintains free- movements, the long grass helped the to swarm him. living ambassador animals in mixed pups adjust to restraint. When the pups habitats, provides public educational were used to the leashes they were taken Now we are on the point of bidding programs and in-depth seminars, hosts outside the enclosure and allowed to goodbye to Tilly and Gordon. Seeing them researchers from many institutions to explore more widely. At first we did this go to their new homes is heart-wrenching, conduct behavioural and cognitive research with each pup individually, but by the end but at least we can visit Tilly sometimes in with the wolves, and advocates for the of the summer they had also gone on a lot Illinois. We still keep in touch with Thali, species and for conservation. Wolf Park of group walks. Having the other pups Marius, and Marlin, born here and living at offers internships along seemed to give each of them Scovill Children's Zoo since the summer of and practicums to confidence to walk by things that one pup 1997. We value our friendship with the interested might retreat from if he were walked humans at Scovill, and trust that we will students of wolf individually. also establish friendships with the behaviour.

All photos by Monty Sloan Wolf Park USA It's a tough life being a wolf pup!

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 15 Life and behaviour of wolves:

breeding behaviour and processes

Pete Haswell all images: dreamstime.com

All organisms have the before other females in the pack, ensuring changes preparing the body for breeding. male interest, whilst suppressing Courting behaviour becomes more frequent desire to breed and pass reproductive cycles in other females through and levels of female sex hormone œstrogen on their genes to the physical and mental harassment. Established increase. Males are receptive to these next generation; it is the pairs tend to scent-mark more frequently changes. When the female is in œstrus, ready during this period with newly-formed pairs to breed, copulation will occur. ultimate means of ensuring marking most often. survival. COPULATION Wolves mate anytime between January and REPRODUCTIVE TIMING April with late February to early March being Females give visual and Female wolves usually become sexually most common for North American wolves. olfactory cues to indicate active in their second year, although in Wolf populations in southern portions of receptivity. captivity this can be seen at a younger their range tend to breed earlier than those age. Males usually become fertile by the further north. Records exist of Arizona She will avert her tail to the side (flagging), age of 22 months. In captivity, breeding wolves breeding in December and Abyssinian standing still when the male mounts. An has been documented as early as nine to wolves anytime from August to December. inattentive male is encouraged by the female ten months, the earliest documented wild pawing, rubbing and even mounting him. The breeding is two years. Wild wolves may COURTSHIP physical act occurs with the male mounting not breed until four or five years of age. from the rear. A copulatory tie results after This reproductive capacity still puts them In late winter a pair may male ejaculation due to swelling of the males' ahead of the grizzly bear which does not begin to court, forming a penile bulb gland and muscular tightening of breed until eight years old. This may be strong bond. the females' vaginal tract. This literally ties due to factors such as an inability to care the wolves together. This tie aims to ensure for pups due to underdeveloped hunting The process is affectionate. Wolves will successful expertise and parental skills learnt from approach one another whilst quietly whining. fertilisation, older pack members. Wild wolves need to Noses touch, muzzles are mouthed, bodies increasing wait until vacant territory is available with bump, mutual grooming and nibbling of successful passage ample resources and suitable coats ensues whilst the pair become of sperm and environmental conditions. This may take acquainted, often walking closely and even ensuring a lack of time in saturated wolf populations, sleeping side by side. Courting pairs will competition from thereby prolonging the age of breeding. follow each other closely two months prior to other males by œstrus. This early courtship phase is known preventing further During autumn hormone levels begin to as the pre pro-œstrus. copulation. During rise, preparing the body for the attachment wolves reproductive cycles to follow. Female After time, males will begin to smell the often turn to face wolves come into œstrus once per year in female genital area, investigating for traces end to end, late winter. This period lasts roughly five of sex hormones. If she is not sexually ensuring protection to seven days, the female being most receptive, the male is declined with growls from potential receptive in the latter half. Breeding and snaps of the jaws. During the pro-œstrus intruders during females will usually come into œstrus period females undergo physiological this vulnerable

16 UKWCT WOLF PRINT time. Ties last from five to 36 minutes. Wolf copulatory ties more readily separate than those of domestic dogs, offering obvious survival advantage should danger present itself. Wolves may copulate between one and eleven times during œstrus.

Unfortunately for romantics among us, myths of wolves mating for life are untrue. Lasting attachments are formed but widowed wolves are known to breed with another. Some males bond with different early May), females in different years. Potentially this which coincides with birth pulses could occur due to lack of previous breeding of herbivores providing a means to cater for success. their nutritional needs. Again variances can hierarchy has been be seen to coincide with alternative breeding disturbed. PREPARATION FOR PUP BIRTH patterns of wolves in different environments. Pups are born after the worst of winter and Non-reproductive pack members provide After copulation metestrus are almost completely physically developed indirect pup care for many reasons. At the occurs whether the female by the time winter comes again. present time it may be the best course of falls pregnant or not. action to promote the genes which they Wolf litter sizes average five or six pups but share with their kin. Their actions reinforce This period prepares the female for pup range from one to 11. In areas with high social bonds enhancing survival and juveniles rearing. Physical changes such as the growth mortality rates or larger prey biomass gain valuable experience for when they of mammary tissue and loss of belly hair, available per wolf, litter sizes tend to be eventually breed themselves. Issues relating along with behaviours such as den higher. to co-parental care are complex and many construction, are elicited by the metestrus hypotheses are untested. phase. Females failing to become pregnant FACTORS AFFECTING BREEDING sometimes express this in "pseudo- Inbreeding has been observed in wolves both pregnancies". Most wolf packs comprise wild and captive. The degree to which this is pups (largest proportion), harmful is not clear. Populations can suffer Preparation for pup care may begin well from inbreeding depression and negative before birth. Dens may be dug as early as yearlings from previous physical effects. Isle Royale (Michigan, USA) autumn. All pack members participate in den breeding, and the parent pair. wolves show a high degree of inbreeding due digging and provisioning for the pregnant to their inability to migrate. This population female. Den locations vary depending on Packs may include one or more two- to are suspected to suffer from reproductive availability but are rarely near peripheral three-year-olds. Usually, all young are failure, population decline, decreased genetic territory areas where conflicts are likely. offspring of the breeding pair. Some packs diversity, physical abnormalities and Most natal dens are near water and elevated contain a post-reproductive female (old decreased longevity. to allow detection of danger. Dens may be breeding female succeeded by a daughter) or found in crevices, caves and under trees, to wolf adopted from another pack. Inbreeding occurs due to a lack of choice; name but a few. Dens are not lined with any Male/female pack composition tends to be similarly, when lacking potential mates, material. Birthing chambers are normally even. wolves are known to settle for domestic located at the end of a tunnel up to 15 feet dogs. In most wild situations the opportunity long, often being slightly elevated above the Adult wolf mortality peaks during late for input of new genetic material is high rest of the tunnel. The chamber is autumn and winter; also the most major enough to prevent inbreeding. Social approximately 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet times of dispersal. During this period young processes causing dispersal and prevention high. Females often localise near a den site adults may leave their pack to find a mate of inter-pack breeding are pivotal. for a month prior to birth. All pack members and form their own. Winter hormonal protect the den changes preparing for the breeding season Factors such as dispersal through connected site, the adult stimulate dispersal behaviour. Males are habitat areas (containing genetically diverse male being much more likely to fight during this period. populations), availability of suitable mates particularly and habitat in which to raise young, impact protective. In most situations the parent or Alpha pair upon breeding processes and thus mate. Occasionally subordinate breeding or population viability. To maintain stable and Just prior to birth multiple pack pair mating occurs. Multiple suitable wolf breeding processes, factors and for a few days litters are more common than initially determining them must be preserved. after, the female thought. These situations are seen as a will be alone in response to severe winters when prey Pete Haswell, BSc Hons Environmental the den. becomes vulnerable creating a more readily Science (Biodiversity and Conservation). Gestation in available food source. Periodic disturbance or wolves, similarly culling of wolf populations can lead to a Pete is currently assisting with educational to dogs, lasts 60- temporary increase in numbers. Wolf work at the Trust and is collaborating with 63 days. Pups are reproduction rates react accordingly to Josip Kusak on a project the UKWCT supports. born in early factors in their environment. Subordinate Pete hopes to soon begin a doctorate of spring (late April/ females may successfully mate after pack biology.

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 17 The Mexican Gray Wolf:

While the wolf remains for many a symbol of the wild, human development and land-use conflicts in the western United States have pushed wolves to the edge of extinction, reports Mexican Wolf Fund project manager Erin Hunt.

ew species are as polarising as the life in an area, affecting forest health, soil resounding success as wolf numbers wolf. Wolves inspire a broad range of erosion, and water quality in riparian continue to increase. Femotions, from admiration and zones), to overpopulation of coyotes adoration to intense fear and even hatred. (which compete with wolves for territory IN CONTRAST, THE HISTORY OF THE While the wolf remains for many a symbol and whose numbers explode when wolves MEXICAN GRAY WOLF REPRESENTS A of the wild, human development and land- are removed from an area), to decreases in CASE STUDY IN SOME OF THE use conflicts often threaten the survival of biodiversity (including a drop in the CHALLENGES FACING ENDANGERED this keystone species, particularly in the number and variety of plants, songbirds, SPECIES RECOVERY EFFORTS. western United States where a long history and small mammals in areas where wolves As a result of the same predator of predator eradication programs have have been removed). Because wolves are eradication programs that nearly wiped pushed wolves to the edge of extinction. selective predators, they keep their prey out other subspecies of gray wolf, the populations healthier overall and help Mexican wolf, a highly-endangered As settlers colonised the western United prevent both overgrazing and massive die- subspecies of gray wolf, was completely States, they feared that wolves and other outs due to disease and starvation when a extirpated from its former range in the US predators would threaten their livestock population gets too large. Wolves keep by 1970 and in Mexico by 1980. Once and families. In response, the US coyote populations in check, which roaming from Arizona, New Mexico and government implemented a predator benefits foxes, badgers and martins that western Texas in the United States down eradication program that began as early as compete with coyotes for prey and whose to Mexico City in Mexico, the Mexican gray 1630 but became widespread in the mid- populations dwindle if coyote populations wolf could no longer play its part in the 1800s. Wolves, bears, mountain lions, are too large. Wolves also put food on the ecosystems of the Southwest as the only coyotes and other predators were shot, ground for other species, such as bears, remaining members of the subspecies trapped, and poisoned to reduce their birds of prey, ravens, magpies, coyotes, were moved to captive facilities to prevent numbers or even eliminate them from wolverines and other scavengers, so many extinction. In 1976, the Mexican gray wolf certain areas where they were deemed a species benefit from their presence in an was officially listed on the US Endangered threat to human activities. ecosystem. Species List and a recovery plan was developed from 1977 to 1982. This The eradication program effectively The realisation that wolves play critical recovery plan included using carefully reduced wolf numbers from the hundreds roles in an ecosystem prompted managed captive stock to replenish the of thousands to a few hundred in the reintroduction efforts in Yellowstone wild population that had been wiped out. continental US, and wolves were National Park and Idaho in the US in 1995. extirpated from a majority of their former Since then, the wolf population in the From a captive founding population of range. Perhaps most significantly, this Northern Rockies in the US has thrived, seven unrelated individuals, the Mexican policy ignored the benefits that these top and Yellowstone National Park has become wolf population was rebuilt in captivity. predators provided in the ecosystems in a living laboratory demonstrating the This captive population is now being used which they were found. dramatic effect that wolves have on the in a reintroduction effort in Arizona and plants and animals around them. While New Mexico. Reintroductions began in It was decades later that scientists realised this reintroduction effort was 1998 and continue today, but the wild the long-term, ecosystem-wide effects that controversial, and while the US population still faces many challenges to removing a top predator like the wolf can government and court systems are still its long-term survival. have. These effects range from trying to determine the ultimate fate of overpopulation of ungulates (animals such wolves in the western US, most would call While captive breeding efforts have been as deer and elk that can overgraze plant the Yellowstone reintroduction a extremely successful, the total population

18 UKWCT WOLF PRINT of Mexican wolves only numbers about population of Mexican wolves in the conflicts with humans, pets and livestock 350 animals. Of that, only about 42 Recovery Project, removal of even one while they adapt to their new environment Mexican gray wolves are found in the wild wolf may have consequences for the and live in their natural territories. The in Arizona and New Mexico in an area viability of the entire population. With SOP potential for conflict can be minimised or called the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area. 13, the recovery program reached an even eliminated through the use of impasse, as wolves were being removed proactive, non-lethal techniques such as THE MEXICAN GRAY WOLF IS CONSIDERED from the wild faster than they could range riders, predator-proof fencing, ONE OF THE RAREST LAND MAMMALS IN reproduce on their own and faster than fladry, Radio-Activated Guard (RAG) boxes, THE WORLD and the small size of the they were being reintroduced from and proactive livestock management population means that this subspecies captivity. techniques such as consolidated calving already faces an uphill battle and grazing, and the use of to reach recovery goals. This livestock guardian dogs. These last battle is complicated by the strategies are particularly complex socio-economic important because they signal a atmosphere in which wolf shift toward managing livestock recovery takes place. around wolves, rather than attempting to manage wolves Even though the Mexican gray around livestock. wolf is protected by the US Endangered Species Act, Along with the shift toward human-caused mortality is proactive management, the still the number one cause of restoration of oversight to the US death for Mexican wolves in Annual health check at Fish and Wildlife Service in a the wild. Wolves are the California Wolf Center landmark November 2009 lawsuit sometimes illegally shot settlement was accompanied by a (including three during the dismantling of the wolf control summer of 2010 alone), and some wolves WITH THE POPULATION DWINDLING protocol, SOP 13. While lethal control still are also removed from the wild for BELOW RECOVERY GOALS, this situation remains an option as a management tool management reasons (primarily due to required a paradigm shift in how the after non-lethal alternatives have been depredation on livestock or for travelling Mexican wolf was managed in the wild. On exhausted, the automatic "three strikes" outside the designated wolf recovery the one hand, wildlife managers began to cut-off policy no longer exists as an area). focus on proactively preventing conflicts impediment to leaving wolves in the wild. that might require the lethal control or As a result, the need for funding to Encounters with human activities, permanent removal of wolves, rather than implement non-lethal, proactive efforts including livestock grazing, can reduce responding to the conflicts reactively after has been elevated to even greater wolves' life expectancies because wildlife they had occurred. On the other hand, importance. But this leaves hope for the managers must often resort to lethal managers realised that, with such a small future that the Mexican wolf can be saved control measures, or at best remove the population, all efforts must be made to if it is managed in a way that allows wolves animals from the wild and return them to a allow genetically valuable wolves to to be wolves. captive facility. In the Mexican wolf remain in the wild to avoid any negative reintroduction program's early years, the effects of removing animals from the Erin Hunt, Project Manager, number of wolves that were removed from already small breeding population. Mexican Wolf Fund. the wild was in the low single digits. Unfortunately, this changed in the mid- During 2008, wildlife managers did not All photos: 2000s as more wolves were released and remove wolves for depredations. This Tony Shelfo, California Wolf Center those already in the wild reproduced. drastic reduction in depredation-related Under a long-standing management removals can be partially correlated with protocol, called "Standard Operating increased proactive measures in part Procedure 13.0" (SOP 13), if a wolf (or a funded by the Mexican Wolf Fund, a non- member of a pack) killed cattle or other profit organisation dedicated to reducing livestock, that wolf, or possibly its entire conflicts and keeping wolves alive on the pack, was given only "three strikes" in a ground. The empowerment of wildlife 365-day period before lethal control managers and ranchers to implement non- options would be implemented. lethal techniques cannot be overstated as a critical component to the future of When SOP 13 was finalised in 2005, the Mexican wolf recovery. number of Mexican wolves annually removed from the wild increased to Livestock is allowed to graze year-round double digits. In 2007 alone, 19 wolves throughout much of the Blue Range Wolf were removed from New Mexico's Gila Recovery Area, so the potential for conflict Wilderness for livestock depredations. The is almost always there. To ensure that Mexican wolf captive breeding program is reintroduced wolves, whatever their drawn from the three sole genetic lineages experience level, have the opportunity to existing when the program began: Aragon, live, reproduce, raise their litters, and thus Ghost Ranch and McBride. Because of the contribute to their species' long term finite genetic pool of the breeding survival, it is necessary to help them avoid

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 19 Makingwolves in the media Tracks and the arts

literally eat themselves out of their looked back, her amber eyes burning, environment, thus unbalancing 'the web and then vanished into the shadows. of life'. Therefore, the relationship between predator/prey/vegetation is Four months later in August, they crucial. returned to the area and spotted seven wolf cubs. Moving towards the den, It is generally felt that these cascades are located in a stand of aspens, the predator-driven from top down, and researchers observed the trophic these trophic cascades are not just cascade. Deer bones surround the restricted to land habitat, but the same nearby area, aspens leaves shimmered in applies to the marine environment. the breeze and wolf pups coyly peeked Cristina's research out from the trees. This focused on the aspen meadow substantiates trees, a widely- how flora vegetation that distributed species in was almost extinct has THE WOLF'S TOOTH North America, which come alive again now that Keystone Predators, Trophic has been declining in the wolves are back. the West for many Christina ends by saying Cascades and Biodiversity years. In 1960 a about Nina, "She is a landmark paper by keystone: the shaping force By Cristina Eisenberg ecologists Marston, that reforms ecosystems Hardback, 272pp, 23.1 x 15.2cm, RRP £21.00 Smith and Slobodkin into wholes and her ISBN 978-1-59726-397-9 argued that the world is revelations fill me with green because hope". THE WOLF'S TOOTH describes to the predators limit reader why wolves are part of the herbivore population If you want to know more ecosystem and the impact of their (top down control), but about the relationship removal. It contains some detailed not everyone agrees with this. Ecologist between animals and the land they live scientific descriptive paragraphs and Stevan Arnold argues, "The world is in it's a worthwhile read with the findings, but is none the less a green, but that doesn't mean it's edible". potential to open many people's hearts, fascinating book. Rolf Peterson in his studies on Isle minds and eyes. Royale National Park (wolf-moose- Cristina is a conservation biologist at balsam first), showed that it is neither Sandra Benson Oregon State University and this book one nor the other, but a synergy of both. began as her master's thesis. It opens by The Wolf's Tooth is available from the describing an occasion whilst she was So why does biodiversity matter? It can UKWCT shop: www.ukwolf.org completing research on a privately- be argued that in some species there are owned ranch in North West Colorado multiple types and therefore it does NEXT EDITION: and the whispered discussions that took have an impact if some are lost. Cristina Read Julia Bohanna's review of Carter place when wolf cubs were found in the ends her book with a memory of her Niemeyer's new book 'Wolfer - A area. 'Visitors from the North' is how the research in Glacier National Park, Memoir'. Carter Niemeyer is the wolves were referred to, possibly Montana, surrounded by aspen trees retired US Fish and Wildlife service wolf migrating from Yellowstone. Although and with wolf number 763 cradled in her recovery co-ordinator for Idaho, and is wolves are living in the North West of arms. They had just tranquilised the a former trapper and hunter. America, the hatred for the species is young alpha female to fasten a radio Carter will be attending the UK Wolf never far away. collar around her neck. While they were Conservation Trust about to take blood, they noticed her open day on For many years, ecologists have believed swollen teats which indicated cubs 30th May to launch that predator and prey relationships are nearby. Cristina felt the fur, listened to his new book in the responsible for 'trophic cascades'. her heart and felt a primal connection. In UK. He will be ('Trophic' - food related, 'cascade' - the that moment she decided that this wolf giving a talk on the movement of energy through the food was no longer to be a number and she misconceptions chain caused by predator arrival and named her Nina, after her mentor Nina about wolves and departure). Remove a top predator and Leopold Bradley (Aldo Leopold's will be available to prey increases, but the prey causes daughter). As Nina awoke and the sign copies of his damage to their own habitat and they tranquiliser wore off, she rose and new book.

20 UKWCT WOLF PRINT JIM CRUMLEY is one of the UK's finest Scotland. Jim disputes the nature writers with 23 books to his last wolf in the UK being credit. He is thorough in his research, killed in 1743 and believes informative, passionate and empathetic from the moment the last to his subjects. He has the ability to wolf died, nature in draw you into his world. Scotland and the rest of Britain lurched out of Instead of opening, as so many books control, and will remain so do, with the wolf until its return. Without its itself, he begins with top the impact that the predators, wolves have on the with the environment: "The exception of thing about the the raptors mountain after the and a few declining THE LAST WOLF wolves came, was wildcats, the entire eco- By Jim Crumley that it started to system is out of Paperback, 224pp, 19.4 x 12.8cm, RRP £9.99 change colour... We synchronisation. ISBN 978 184158 8476 had only ever seen the red deer there, He argues that there are Scotland. Having walked Rannoch Moor browsing the land reliable re-introductions many times, and having looked in awe to a grey brown throughout America and at the mountains of Glencoe with its bareness...They Europe and the 1992 history of the massacre, I also embrace forgot how to European Union Habitats and his dream. behave like deer. Then the Species Directive urges its wolves came back and overnight they member countries to consider how to A worthwhile read which readdresses remembered. The wolf that howls in our bring the wolf back. He believes that the place of the wolf in modern day dusk is a painter of mountains." but for the myths, that are hard to Scotland. shake off, it could be done tomorrow. In the book, he unravels myths through Woven throughout 'The Last Wolf', Jim Sandra Benson the ages, linking modern British lets his imagination roam, dreaming of misconceptions to the Victorian's love a wolf living on Rannoch Moor, which The Last Wolf is available from the of mysteries and the wild and brave he senses is their spiritual home in UKWCT shop: www.ukwolf.org Cheng Yan Painter and Photographer and uses colour to evoke mood. To find an unusual perspective he will travel for CHENG YAN is a painter and weeks and trek for days up into remote photographer based in the UK, but mountains around the world. His travels regularly around the world to website shows some of his travels from find the images for his amazing China and Nepal to New Zealand and photographs and paintings. Cheng totally Antarctica. Many of his photographs captures the personality of the animals mimic the proportions of a scroll through in his photographs, and the environment the use of a large format panoramic that his subjects live in. He studied art camera. and literature in China and has gone on to win many national prizes for his work. He exhibits regularly in London, Oxford, He takes his inspiration from the New York and Dublin. His work has been landscape and nature of his native published in many countries including homeland, his artwork is influenced by China and France, and by Wizard and traditional Chinese painting and Genius in Switzerland. His book, calligraphy, but he has developed his published by Search Press, on own unique way of expression in new "Traditional and Contemporary Chinese and contemporary styles. brush painting", has also been translated into French, Dutch, Russian and Italian. In his paintings and photography Cheng has a wide range of subject matter from Cheng's work can be viewed through his animals and landscapes to flowers. colours. In his photography he website: www.chengyan.net When painting he mainly uses rice constructs a composition with a poet's paper, ink and quality modern water spirit that relates closely to his painting Sandra Benson

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 21 Makingwolves in the media Tracks and the arts Christina Penescu Wildlife Painter Christina Penescu was born in Bucharest, transition to realistic Romania, in 1988. Her family relocated to wildlife art, which she feels California when Christina was a year old. has always been her true From early childhood, her passion for art and calling in life. She enjoys Within Reach nature was very apparent. As a child she painting a wide variety of loved to collect books about animals and wildlife subjects, but wild canids, especially already begun to carve a niche for herself in spend her time outside in nature. Christina wolves, hold a special place in her heart and the field. At the age of just 20 she was has experimented with a variety of mediums have been a recurring theme in her art since accepted as a Signature Member of the and styles and recently has made the childhood. Christina is has had no formal world-renowned Artists for Conservation training and is a self-educated organisation and is also a member of Marwell At Ease artist. International Wildlife Art Society, which are both considerable achievements. Christina works in a variety of mediums but she prefers In 2010 Christina's painting "Majestic" was acrylic and scratchboard. Her named runner-up in the BBC Wildlife artwork is very detailed as she Magazine's Artist of the Year Award 2010, aims to bring the viewer an and her painting "Apparition" was intimate look at nature. She commended in the International Artists hopes to inspire the world category. through her depictions of the natural beauty around us. Her work can be viewed through her website: Christina is currently at the www.wild-visions.com/artwork.html beginning of her career as a wildlife fine artist but has Sandra Benson

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22 UKWCT WOLF PRINT wolves of the world news from around the world

Grey wolf, John and Karen Hollingsworth, USFWS The Future of the Grey Wolf

What to do about the Grey Wolf? It's a on within its own borders. "Idaho should be debate that's been going on ever since the considered a state by itself. And when they animal was reintroduced to the Yellowstone released the wolves, they didn't release National Park in 1995. The rhetoric was them all in Wyoming or they didn't release turned up a few notches when Idaho's them all in Montana. They released them governor came to a decision recently that into three separate states," said the Idaho was met by both cheers and jeers. To Republican. So, last month, Otter decided to environmentalists, the grey wolf is seen as a withdraw Idaho Fish and Game as the Osteological and Genetic culling predator or an animal that can help designated agent for wolf management in reduce the potential overpopulation of the Gem State, turning over control to U.S. Analysis of Extinct Ezo Wolf another species. They mainly prey on Fish and Wildlife. Otter says Idaho has (Canis lupus hattai) from ungulate or hoofed animal herds such as eclipsed the recovery goals originally set Hokkaido Island, Japan deer and elk. "Elk and deer actually need down. "Each one of those states should be a species like wolves in order to maintain designated population. We have far The Ezo wolf (Canis lupus hattai, healthy numbers and a healthy habitat," exceeded our population. We reached our Kishida, 1931) is an extinct subspecies said Suzanne Stone, Idaho Representative population goal in 2002," he said. Suzanne that inhabited Hokkaido in Japan until for the Defenders of Wildlife. The wolf was Stone, the Northern Rockies Representative the middle of the Meiji Period. protected under the Federal Endangered of the Defenders of Wildlife says a wolf Because there are very few preserved Species Act since its reintroduction. recovery cap was never set. "In order for skeletons, no osteological and/or However, it was de-listed in 2009 after a management to transition, there had to be genetic analyses of the Ezo wolf have federal district judge in Montana ruled that breeding activity between all of the three conservation groups, like the Defenders of sub-populations in the region of wolves. The been conducted. In this study, 20 Wildlife, failed to prove hunting the animal most recent genetic papers show that these cranial and eight mandibular would cause irreparable harm. That also numbers were too low," she said. The characters were measured on Ezo meant there could be a wolf hunt. "Using question remains: where do we go from wolf skeletons, and mitochondrial our sportsmen is one of the ways in which here? What kind of plan will make DNA (mtDNA) was analyzed to assess our management plan worked very well last everybody happy? The Defenders of Wildlife genetic relationships between the year and we intended it to work very well say leadership is the key. "We need people Ezo wolf and other wolf lineages, this year," said Idaho Governor C.L. 'Butch' that are willing to help us bring all of the including the Japanese wolf on Otter. stakeholders to the table. The ranchers, the Honshu. The morphological study hunters, wildlife conservationists to work on showed that the Ezo wolf is larger The grey wolf was put back on the list in resolving the conflicts rather than polarizing than the Japanese wolf and similar in August by the same Montana judge who them even further," said Stone. Governor size to the grey wolf of the Asian and took it off, taking the hunt away. The Otter, on the other hand, wants the Federal American Continents. MtDNA control reason: a group of thirteen conservation Government to give Idaho the wolf hunt sequences (751 bp) from two Ezo organizations sued the Department of the again. He doesn't see that happening wolves were identical to those from Interior saying U.S. Fish and Wildlife made a because of the threat of even further legal the Canadian grey wolf. The mistake by allowing Idaho and Montana to action against the U.S. Department of the morphological and genetic characters have their own wolf management plans Interior. "He's afraid. He's already been indicate that the ancestor of the Ezo while Wyoming was kept under federal warned that if he did that for Montana or wolf was genetically related to that of control, meaning Wyoming's wolves were Idaho or Wyoming, that they would sue the grey wolf in Canada. still protected. The judge agreed, ruling that again," said Otter. all wolves in the Northern Rockies had to be www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.2108/zsj. listed or de-listed together, not on a state- www.fox12idaho.com/Global/story.asp?S=1 27.320 or tiny.cc/tbbv9 by-state basis. Otter says that flies in the 3467628 face of a state's ability to control what goes or tiny.cc/thn35 ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 23 wolves of the world Anchorage wolf actions normal...... no cause for fear

writes Vic Van Ballenberghe

I MOVED TO ANCHORAGE in 1974 to work trapped they adapt to the presence of an aggressive wolf-killing program, we as a moose and wolf biologist for the people and pose virtually no danger. should teach people how to behave near Department of Fish and Game. In the Examples of this include the wolves in wolves. As with any large wild animal, winter of 1975-1976 another biologist and Denali National Park, where no one has people should be cautious and should I investigated two cases where wolves been injured by a wolf in the past 90 know some basic rules. Pay attention to killed dogs in the Eagle River Valley. In years. Wolves in several packs there your surroundings when in wolf country. 1977 I moved to Fairbanks to be a became tolerant of people and vehicles, Don't run from wolves (or bears) -- stand biologist there. At that time, wolves killed approaching to within a few yards with your ground. Don't jog near wolves with a several dogs in the Goldstream Valley on little fear. In my fieldwork there I have headset on that prevents hearing the outskirts of Fairbanks. From approaching animals. Carry time to time, incidents like There is a long record of wolves co- pepper spray. Don't let dogs run these have occurred over at loose near wolves and keep least the past 35 years and existing with people in Alaska and there's them indoors at night. And people have occasionally had no reason to believe this cannot continue. never feed wolves. Inform close encounters with wolves others of these measures and near our large urban centers. The recent been near wolves dozens of times over the encourage them to be cautious. With article about wolves apparently killing a past 30 years and never had a wolf react wolves near our urban centers, we need dog in Eagle River suggests that wolves are aggressively. Wildlife authorities in the not let excessive fear dictate our actions. becoming bolder and more used to past recognized that wolves near our people, thereby posing more danger than urban centers occasionally killed dogs but Vic Van Ballenberghe is a wildlife biologist in the past. In my view, these claims are posed little danger for people. But now and former Board of Game member. unfounded. they are taking a more aggressive He lives in Anchorage. approach to reduce or eliminate wolf Are human-tolerant wolves apt to injure packs near Anchorage in response to www.adn.com/2010/11/10/1548045/wolf or kill people? A lot of evidence in Alaska people's fears. Available data clearly -actions-normal-no-cause-for.html and elsewhere indicates that healthy wild indicate that residents of Anchorage are or tiny.cc/fa39u wolves become dangerous only when fed. far more likely to be injured by a bear or a When unfed wolves are not shot or moose than by an unfed wolf. Rather than ARABIAN WOLF DISTRIBUTION UPDATE FROM SAUDI ARABIA SINCE THE FIRST Arabian wolf records from protected areas in Saudi Arabia indicating the northern and central Saudi Arabia, their actual value of synthesising and publishing such data. distribution has been sketchy, with wolves Although wolves are still declining in Saudi never viewed as being very common Arabia, various factors including wolves' throughout their range. Being an understudied habituation to humans, scavenging species, Arabian wolves are probably more omnivorous behaviour, high reproductive rate, widespread than currently documented. large home ranges, long daily movements and Estimated numbers of between 500 and 700 long distance dispersal may contribute to their animals have been published. persistence and even re-establishment in protected areas and other sparsely inhabited A review of unpublished reports (grey locations. literature) has confirmed the presence, and persistence, of grey wolves Canis lupus pallipes www.canids.org/canidnews/13/Arabian_wolf from at least 13 protected or proposed _in_Saudi_Arabia.pdf or tinyurl.com/2wtohwj 24 UKWCT WOLF PRINT French farmers lose the battle to keep wolves from their door; shepherds fear for livestock as government confirms predator has colonised Pyrenees. A ferocious pastoral war over the from Italy in the early 1990s. reconquest, or repopulation, of France by Packs roam throughout the large wild animals has entered a new French Alps, into parts of the phase - or two. There has been a victory Rhône valley, into the hills of for wild wolves and a partial defeat for the Jura in eastern France, and government-assisted bears. After a long over parts of the southern protest campaign by shepherds, the French Massif Central. The government has abandoned a 20-year environment minister, Chantal drive to repopulate the Pyrenees with Jouanno, has confirmed that the grey wolf protect sheep from wolves in France in brown bears. New animals will be (canis lupus) has also opened a new, past centuries. Many shepherds have introduced only if the surviving bears are southern front in its campaign to refused, complaining that the dogs attack 'killed accidentally' or fail to reproduce. recolonise a country from which it was tourists and cause more problems than The bear breeding programme received a exterminated in 1939. At least one pack they solve. In some parts of the French boost this week with the news that two has crossed the border from Spain and is Alps, there have even been running battles sets of young twin cubs had been spotted ranging over the two easternmost - and allegations of dog poisoning - in the Pyrenees, bringing the bear departments in the French Pyrenees. The between pro- and anti-sheepdog groups of population to over 20 for the first time. news will infuriate shepherds' groups and shepherds. There are now estimated to be Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that delight environmental activists, who have about 180 wolves living in France. Their wolves are now resident in 15 of the 94 fought ferocious anti-wolf and pro-wolf arrival in the eastern Pyrenees in the last departments (counties) of mainland France political battles in the last 15 years. As part year is believed to have influenced the including, for the first time in a century, of the 2004 Wolf Plan, the government has government's decision to scale back its 20- the French Pyrenees. Wolves first re- subsidised farmers to buy and train large year-old programme to reintroduce the entered France, without human assistance, dogs of the patou breed which used to brown bear (ursus arctos).

Wolf at the door Conservation groups are saying there is a elk does not do the trick. Elk need to be effect. Biologists call that movement 'the better way to control the elk population continually wary and on the move to ecology of fear.' Vaughn Baker, Rocky in Rocky Mountain National Park other prevent over browsing." Represented by Mountain National Park superintendent, than shooting the animals. The park uses DU, WildEarth Guardians challenged the said it wasn't necessarily fear that was sharpshooters to cull the park's elk plan by park officials that failed to used in determining how to control the population rather than reintroducing seriously consider wolf reintroduction as elk, but science and public input. "In wolves, which the groups want, saying a means of addressing the park's developing the elk and vegetation this approach would permanently resolve vegetation problems. management plan for the park, we took a the park's elk problems. Along with the hard look at whether reintroducing culling, park officials have erected fences predators, in particular wolves, was a around dwindling aspen groves to stem feasible tool for managing elk in the elk over-browsing. park," said Baker. "We recognize the vital role predators play in ecosystems. We Conservation groups and the evaluated factors such as the park's University of Denver (DU) Sturm College configuration and size, available habitat of Law Environmental Law Clinic held a and movement of elk between the park rally to welcome back wolves to Colorado and adjoining lands and proximity of on the 17th November 2010. Law towns to our boundaries. We also professor Michael Harris, who directs the considered policies on those adjoining Environmental Law Clinic at DU, will "Rocky Mountain National Park and the lands, as these decisions cannot be made discuss the ongoing Rocky Mountain Park surrounding public lands could provide in a vacuum". Based on meetings and wolf litigation, and there will be two live over 2.2 million acres of wolf habitat. other communications with recognized 'ambassador' wolves at the event. While the park hosts wolves' favorite wolf experts, the National Park Service "Devoid of its wolves, Rocky Mountain prey, elk, in overabundance, their iconic and the experts agreed that at this time, National Park's elk are sedentary predator, the wolf, is sadly absent," Harris without support from neighboring creatures that snack all day, and that said. Biological studies show that federal, state, and local agencies, the uninterrupted feasting leads to ecosystem ecologically functional populations of reintroduction of a self-sustaining wolf collapse. The expedient remedy is the wolves increase ecosystem health and population would not be feasible. most elegant: return the wolf and restore biological diversity. By modulating elk and http://www.eptrail.com/ci_16629290 the balance," said Wendy Keefover-Ring deer numbers and moving them about, of WildEarth Guardians. "Merely culling wolves produce an ecological ripple Photo: Ron Wolf.

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 25 Merchandise

Five Wolves Fleece Jacket £20.00 A lightweight, 100% polyester fleece. Features an all-over print, both front and back, zipped front, two side seam pockets and Three Wolves Hoodie elasticated cuffs. Available in £25.50 grey (left) and blue. Three moonlit wolves Sizes: feature on this hooded top M 40in/42in (102/107cm), from the Wild range. The L 44in/46in (112/117cm), front design is repeated XL 48in/50in (122/127cm). larger on the back and the wolves also appear on the sleeves. Hand wash, 30° max. The jacket has a zipped front, two slanted front pockets, Note: Medium size is length 26in drawstring hood and elasticated bottom. Available in sizes (66cm); large and extra large length Medium (107cm/42in), Large (117cm/46cm) and XLarge 27in (69cm). (127cm/50in). Machine washable at max 35°C. 100% cotton.

Magnets £3.40 each Size 3¼in x 2in (8cm x 5.5cm). Tee-Shirts £14.00 each Four stunning tee-shirts Love Looks from the Wild range, each Artwork by featuring beautiful screen- Rusty Frentner. printed wolves on the front and the back. A Sizes: Medium (102cm/40in), B Large (112cm/44in), XLarge (122cm/48in) White Wolves 100% cotton. Artwork by Machine washable Rusty Frentner at max 35°C. A - Paw Prints

B - Howling Wolf C D C - Midnight Wolf No whining! Artwork by D - Wolf Kiss Lee Cable

Sitting Wolf £8.00 Duma Paw Print Wolf Glove A hand-crafted Natural Poses soft wolf £15.00 Puppet from Wild Republic. 9in (23cm) high. Original £17.50 Wipe clean. plaster cast from our wolf Duma's paw print. Measures 5½in x 5in (14cm x 12cm).

To view and order these or our other A large animal head clothing, gifts and souvenirs, visit our glove puppet with full online shop at: www.ukwolf.org or call moving mouth. Soft 0118 971 3330. plush fur. Suitable for 12 months and above. Please note: all UK orders are subject to a Hand washable. minimum P&P charge of £4.50. Length 18in (45 cm). For overseas orders, please contact us.

26 UKWCT WOLF PRINT 'Night Watch' Painting by Numbers £4.99 UKWCT Wolves Tea Towel £5.00 A wolf stands gazing at you in the starlit forest. 100% cotton tea towel featuring UKWCT The pre-printed board, materials supplied and wolves Torak, Duma, Latea, Lunca, Mosi, instructions are all you need to reproduce this Wolf Lodge Tapestry Wall Hanging £40.75 and Mai, taken from original artwork by lovely picture. Includes 1 numbered drawing on High quality jacquard tapestry woven cotton wall Onnie. Machine washable at 50°. a 22cm x 30cm textured board, 1 brush, 20 hanging producing a true work of art. Supplied with acrylic paints and 1 paint organiser. wooden hanging rod. 34in x 26in (86cm x 66cm). SALE

Wallet Featuring the UKWCT's Duma Wolf Socks Ambassadors of the Wild in the snow. This leather- Wolves Ahead Sign Made from 75% cotton, 20% nylon and DVD effect wallet has 6 credit card US-style sign. 5% Spandex. Available in beige, hunter green Documentary of the work pockets, 2 note sections, 38cm x 38cm and black in adult sizes 9-11 and 10-13. of the Trust. Running time 1 zipped section and a Was £5.00 now £2.00 Machine washable. 40mins, PAL, Region 0. Velcro closure. 190 x 115mm. Was £6.00 now £4.50 Was £4.99 now £2.99 Was £10.00 now £6.50

A New Era The World of Wolves for Wolves and New Perspectives on People: Ecology, Behaviour Wolf Recovery, Human and Management Attitudes and Policy Edited by Marco Marco Musiani, Luigi Musiani, Luigi Boitani Boitani, Paul C Paquet and Paul C Paquet

A series of papers is The second book in presented on aspects the New Era for of wolf conservation Wolves and People from across the global series, The World of range of the grey wolf, Wolves offers a fresh documenting the history and current status of and provocative look at current trends in wolf wolf populations and the key threat to their and wildlife management. Representative case existence and expansion: human-wolf conflict. studies from geographically and culturally UKWCT A4 Wall Calendar 2011 An academic yet very readable book, illustrated diverse areas of the world highlight the existing This wall calendar-planner features with colour photographs by David C Olsen and interconnections between wolves, their prey, all the wolves at the Trust in 2010 illustrations by Susan Shimeld. their ecosystems and people. Paperback, and is supplied with a mailing Paperback, 224 pages. 352pages. envelope. Was £15.99 now £9.99 Was £23.50 now £20.00 Was £8.50 now £5.99

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 27 Wolves in Russia:

Wolf cubs at the Chisty Les Rehabilitation Center

Most wolf arguments are based A state bounty for every wolf claim a bounty when a wolf is killed. For every female killed between 15th May and on two direct opposites of the Under the Soviet Government a state 15th July in Novgorod a bounty of R15000 spectrum: to kill or not to kill, bounty was paid for every wolf killed: R100 (over US$500) is commanded. In Smolensk to conserve or not to conserve. (Russian Rubles) per male adult, R150 per there is no bounty offered at all, but this female adult, R200 per female adult with does not necessarily mean a lack of In Russia, the wolf situation is a pups plus R50 per pup. A wolf was hunting. grey area faceted by history, considered a pup before 1st October and tradition, finance, politics and an adult after, resulting in many 'maximum Education to bring change return' strategies. It was illegal to not be ecology. employed in Soviet times (albeit poorly The Soviet damage is done and the paid) and the bounty system offered a rich impression of the malevolent wolf is supplement to those who could hunt; a ingrained in many. Many people still Vladimir V. Bologov† and single adult wolf could bring in an extra believe that ungulates are the sole Jessica A. Wiegand§ look month's pay. With the breakdown of the property of humans and that therefore further. USSR, the state bounty system was wolves should be eliminated accordingly. abolished and it is now the responsibility of For all hunters wolves are a trophy animal, the regional administrations to manage their canny elusiveness giving hero status their hunting grounds, with variations in with their death. However, not all attitudes re-1950s, all meat-eating predators system between each region. There is high are unequivocal hostility. Some local from crows to bears were wolf density in the five regions between people live with the knowledge that they Pconsidered superfluous and it was Moscow and St Petersburg (Tver, share their space with wolves and accept encouraged to kill them for the good of the Smolensk, Pskov, Novgorod and Yaroslavl) this, the wolves' tracks around the village country to protect livestock and ungulates. and each offers a different bounty size. In being the only clue to their presence. But a Times have changed and many animals the Tver region in 2003 a bounty of R1500 single attack on livestock will be such as the bear and lynx now enjoy state of state money was promised per wolf, remembered for decades and the liable protection with an enforced fine or prison regardless of age (although this was not wolf (and probably others) hunted and sentence for those who hunt them without paid as the money could not be found). In killed. The perceptions of the Russian a licence. Wolves, however, remain the Yaroslavl, the bounty is raised through a people are not necessarily separated into victim of human antipathy and are legally hunting organisation that charges a categories of young or old, city or country, persecuted throughout the country. membership fee to hunters who can then hunter or not. Unlike science that will

28 UKWCT WOLF PRINT group collectively for convenience in bounties). The wolf bounty system exists should individuals be sacrificed for the regardless of individual personality or to stimulate wolf hunting and therefore sake of the species? preference, the reasons behind opinions protect the ungulates to ensure a constant must be considered. The local farmer will stream of revenue. Most local people Wolves are low in priority fear the wolf if his entire livelihood would not pay to hunt wolves as they are a depends on his sheep. The hunter will difficult and time-consuming animal to kill; The question will probably never have to detest the wolf that remains elusive to his thus with the instigation of a licence fee be answered. Russia has been rocked by gun. In towns and cities many people may either no wolves would be killed and political extremes in the last century and like wolves, be purely disinterested or not consequently the assumption of decreased wolves feature low on the priority scale. In even know of their existence in Russia. ungulates may stand, or illegal wolf the face of political inaction the lives of Children may simply inherit their parents' hunting would occur. Both outcomes wolves depend on the viewpoints of attitudes. It is, therefore, only education would result in lost revenue. Ironically, it people who have the means to instigate that will begin the shift of attitude from big is the diminishing number of ungulates change without altering the law: money. bad wolf to animal with conservation partly caused by illegal hunting which The socio-economic changes within Russia status. But is this the most sagacious probably forms the current most effective have ensured that a select few of the move? Human nature is perverse: the method of wolf control through food population have secured massive wealth, more esteemed and limited in number an regulation. and with it, the urge to use it. Land is now animal is, the greater its trophy status and available for long-term rent; once leased, the urge to kill it. The placing of the wolf Variable wolf 'problem' what is done with it is not questioned. This on the red list may give it greater value can have massive implications for the wolf. and instigate a more burning, if illegal, will Russia is a vast country and the intensity of Wolf haters can employ rangers to patrol to kill. As well as this, the wolves' status as the wolf 'problem' varies from place to their land and kill every wolf, paying huge despicable is sometimes used as a means place. In the frozen, isolated and relatively private bounties out of inexhaustible to apply for money by regional uninhabited north, wolves roam free and funds. Wolf lovers can offer sanctuary. environmental administrations from the unchecked, and people experience no Perhaps it will take near extermination state, as money is often likely to be problems. Mid-Russia holds more people before an inordinate amount of money is granted if asked for wolf control, although and a few problems, with farmers in south spent trying to reintroduce the wolf back it may not ultimately be used for such. Russia experiencing high numbers of into the wild; perhaps they will be hunted livestock attacks. The problem with the to complete extinction. Maybe wolves will No compensation scheme bounty system is that the same price is be offered asylum by enough land owners paid, regardless of place. If the bounty to ensure their survival; maybe they will Many people ask why the government system stays, a positive correlation simply be left to struggle on. Without does not give protection status to the wolf between bounty and wolf problems could money, little can be done and the outlook and both abolish the bounty system and be instigated and maybe in time a balance is uncertain. Russia is changing and with it, charge a licence fee to hunt it; it seems an would arise with few wolves living in areas the future of the wolves; their survival obvious solution in a world where financial of high human density and high wolf depends on the perceptions of the rich. gain will outweigh antipathy. The three density in areas with no humans. By main arguments used by authorities to eliminating our competitor from 'our' † [email protected] justify wolf 'control' (attacks on livestock, territory, conflict should decrease as wolf § [email protected] the spreading of rabies and predation on attacks on livestock and predation of game game animals) still stand in Russia as they animals within human areas became a Photos: Vladimir Bologov do elsewhere, with the claims based both thing of the past; a ruthless proposal to on fact and omitted truth. Attacks on end the ongoing battle. livestock do happen and their occurrence cannot be ignored. As there is no One step forward, two steps back compensation system in Russia, no complete countrywide data exists of the The irony is that in most places in the frequency although the Russian State world, conservationists are desperately Game Department (RSGD) placed costs at running a 'one step forward, two steps US$1.6m in 2002 (approximately US$37 back' race to save wolves from extinction. per living wolf), with US$0.5m paid out in In Russia, they have been persecuted with bounties (approximately US$50 per dead the aim of complete extermination for wolf). As for rabies, according to data from over 70 years; they are unprotected by any the Tver Region Sanitary Inspectorate of law, they can be legally killed with poison Epidemics, of the 370 registered cases of and a bounty sits on their head; yet still people falling ill with rabies during the last their numbers have effectively remained 10 years, three were caused by wolves. It is stable. Obviously, the current system is probably predation on game animals which highly inefficient and the devil's advocate forms the strongest logical argument for question raises its head: for the wolves' the current wolf management system as it sake, why change anything? At present, is based on financial gain, and is closely the government gets money from ungulate linked with the existence of the bounty hunting licences, hunters get money from system. Ungulates are a source of income wolf bounties and wolves have a for the Russian government as hunters pay developed survival strategy maintaining a licence fee to shoot them. Within Russian their numbers. The issue here is moral: the estimates, wolf predation on game wolves that are killed suffer; they are animals is counted as damage, and was snared, beaten, chased and poisoned, approximated by the RSGD at US$3.2m in sometimes badly wounded, ensuring a 2002 (approximately US$71 per living wolf, slow death. And so the ecological question well above the costs per wolf paid out for wolf survival remains:

ISSUE 42 SPRING 2011 29 Compassionate

Between 1st and 3rd September 2010 the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) and the Born Free Foundation hosted the Compassionate Conservation Symposium at Lady Margaret Hall, a college closely associated with WildCRU at the University of Oxford. One of the speakers was Camilla Fox.

Camilla is the founder and executive director of Project Coyote in the USA. For over 15 years she has worked to protect wildlife and wild lands in the U.S. and internationally. Camilla has served in leadership positions with the Animal Protection Institute, Fur-Bearer Defenders and Rainforest Action Network, and has spearheaded campaigns aimed at protecting native carnivores, and fostering humane and ecologically-sound solutions to human-wildlife conflicts.

Camilla Fox with Virginia McKenna Camilla is the co-author of two books: Coyotes in Our Midst and Cull of the Wild, and co-producer of the award- winning film, Cull of the Wild: The Truth Behind Trapping. She holds a Master's degree in Environmental Studies, with a focus on Wildlife Conservation, Policy, and Ecology, from Prescott College, and a Bachelor's degree from Boston University. In 2006, Camilla received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Marin Humane Society and the Christine Stevens Wildlife Award from the Animal Welfare Institute.

Camilla wrote the following blog during her trip to the UK to attend the Symposium:

logging from Oxford, England, from the Compassionate Conservation Conference - a ground-breaking BInternational Symposium on animal welfare in conservation practice. The Symposium, sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) and the Born Free Foundation, has brought together scientists and practitioners from a range of disciplines to debate animal welfare issues in conservation, to look for practical outcomes and promote a dialogue between the two disciplines that are often perceived as mutually exclusive.

The Symposium is organized around the following themes: Ÿ Animal welfare in field conservation Ÿ Captive animal welfare and conservation Ÿ Conservation consequences of wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release Coyote, by Camilla H. Fox/ProjectCoyote.org Ÿ International trade in live wild animals Marin County Livestock and Wildlife Protection Program - after Here with me is my colleague, good friend, and Project Coyote controversy erupted when local citizens learned that Marin was Advisory Board member, Dr. Marc Bekoff, who addressed some going to be one of three northern California counties to test the challenging ethical questions around reintroduction and deadly poison Compound 1080 on coyotes by the federal conservation projects in his keynote address including: government. The local Marin initiative - unique in its kind - assists ranchers with implementing non-lethal animal husbandry Ÿ Should we kill for conservation? techniques instead of killing native carnivores with federal Ÿ What trade-offs must be made between ethics and trappers through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 'Wildlife conservation goals? Services' program. Ÿ Can conservation biologists do good science - save individuals, species, and ecosystems - and also be It is refreshing to see these challenging issues of how we balance compassionate? conservation with the needs and lives of individual animals Ÿ What role does sentience play in our decisions? debated in an international forum, with some of the brightest thinkers and visionaries of our time. It is my hope that out of this Representing both Project Coyote and the Animal Welfare symposium there will be more collaboration between Institute, I spoke about predator management in the United conservationists and animal welfare advocates where common States and why we need to move away from indiscriminate ground and goals can be identified. killing methods like poisons, snaring, aerial gunning, body-count bounties and contest hunts, and recognize the important role Read Camilla's blog on the Huffington Post website at: that native carnivores play in healthy ecosystems. tiny.cc/oczcp

I also discussed an alternative model that was adopted in my www.projectcoyote.org/index.html home county in Marin Co, California - known as the www.compassionateconservation.org/

30 UKWCT WOLF PRINT Forthcoming events at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust

23rd February, 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm Children's 24th February, 13th April & 1st June, 11am-1pm Wolf Take a walk with the UKWCT wolves. This event includes a short talk and tour of the centre. Walks £13 per person, 6 years + Booking essential; limited parent spaces.

Winter Wolfy Treats 24th February, 2pm to 4pm Take a walk with the wolves then spend the afternoon making some special treats for the wolves. £15 per person, 6 years + Booking essential; limited parent spaces Children's Wolf Keeper Days Eggstatic Spectacular! 21st April and 2nd June, 10am-3pm Wolf Walk and Easter Egg Hunt Ÿ 20th April, 11am-1pm Come dressed to get mucky and see what the wolves and Have you ever wondered what the wolves love to do at their keepers get up to during the day. Ÿ Easter? Well, they do enjoy hunting for eggs. Come for a Take over the job of the Wolf Keeper looking after the walk with the wolves and then decorate some eggs for their wolves. Don't be fooled - it's hard work but lots of fun. very own wolfy Easter Egg Hunt - the wolves love it and so Spaces are limited to make the day really special, so please will you! Please book early for this popular event. book early. £30 per person. 10 years + Cost £15 per person, 6 years +

with Michelle Paver Tuesday, 12th April, 1pm - 5pm Come and join award-winning author Michelle Paver for a creative writing workshop. Find out how Michelle researches her work. She will then guide you through writing a short piece of your own and finish the day by reviewing some of the work. Includes a wolf walk. Book early as this event is very popular. £15 per person, 8 years +

Special Wolf Walks for Adults

Sunday, 13th February, 10am and 1.30pm Sunday, 3rd April, 10am

What could be a more romantic gift for an animal lover than to walk Looking for an extra-special gift for an extra-special mum? How with wolves? Spend your special day at the UK Wolf Conservation about a wolf walk? The event includes a photo opportunity Trust in the company of one of the world's most family-oriented with the wolves and a gift for Mum. £75 for two people. Open species. It's breeding season for the wolves as well and they are to children age 12 years plus; £10 extra per additional child, very loyal and attentive to their mates at this special time of the subject to availability. year for lovers. £75 for two people. Includes a gift.

Wednesday, 8th June, 2pm

For those unable to come on our full two-hour walks due to mobility Sunday, 20th June, 10am issues, we offer special mobility walks at the Trust. The event starts with a PowerPoint presentation in the Education Centre and then Stuck for that special gift for a Dad who has everything? Why a short walk around the site, with the chance to meet wolves up not get him the ultimate gift - walking with wolves? The event close. There is a large area of graveled path around the enclosures includes a photo opportunity with the wolves and a gift for Dad. which allows good viewing of all the wolves. The wolves are happy £75 for two people. Open to children age 12 years plus; around wheelchairs. £75 for two people. £10 extra per additional child, subject to availability. Booking essential. All walks come with a year's membership to the Trust. Further details at www.ukwolf.org or to book call 0118 971 3330 Forthcoming events at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust

UKWCT Wolf Centre Open Days Bank Holiday Mondays 30th May & 29th August, 11am-5pm with Vic Bearcroft Friday, 1st April Ÿ Look around the Wolf Trust Ÿ Photography sessions from the platform Join award-winning British wildlife artist and the positioned camera lens holes cut Vic Bearcroft on this special pastel workshop, into the enclosure fence where you will learn how to paint wolves in pastel Ÿ Ask the experts about living with wolves Ÿ Listen to the wolves howling on velour paper. You will be painting one of the Ÿ Other animal exhibits U KWCT's own wolves from a selected reference Ÿ Children's activities available photograph, in sight of the wolves them selves. Ÿ Nature Trail The workshop is suitable for artists of all abilities. Ÿ Pond Dipping Ÿ Birds of prey You will also have the chance to m eet a wolf at Ÿ Bouncy Castle very close quarters, feel the fur and take som e Ÿ Hug a Husky fantastic reference photos. Ÿ Refreshments Ÿ Picnic tables available For further inform ation and booking, please em ail £7 adults and non-members Vic Bearcroft at [email protected] or £5 members and children under 12 telephone 01636 651699 Booking not required. Sorry, no dogs. www.vicbearcroft.co.uk Photography Day Predator to Pet Workshops Sunday 20th February 9.30am-4.30pm 10am, Saturdays 7th May, 2nd July and 15th October Held in winter, when our wolves look their most Join us for an exciting and fast-moving A walk with an charismatic, our exciting photography workshop ambassador wolf starts with a brief presentation setting the scene, workshop developed in association with Wolf Park of Indiana. You will: is included, informing you about wolves in general and the allowing you to history of our wolf centre. Ÿ examine the genetic evidence of the see first-hand the relationship between dogs and wolves wild ancester of After a break, there is a short walk to the Ÿ today's dogs. look at domestication vs socialisation You'll also receive photography area, where you'll be able to take Ÿ learn about the taxonomy of canids pictures of our wolves. Ÿ a gift as a walk with ambassador wolves, seeing memento of the firsthand the ancestor of today's dogs day. Open to photographers of all abilities and Ÿ receive a gift as a memento of the day standards of equipment. Participants must be 18 years or older. This hands-on workshop will chart the £50 per person - domestication of dogs from their wild roots places limited - Spaces are limited so book early. £75 per person to the present day... and much more besides. booking essential

Friday 11th February, 25th March at 6.30pm Night 20th May, 17th June, 15th July at 7.00pm 5th May, 19th May, 26th May, 9th June and 23rd June; 10am to 4pm. is If you've ever dreamed of standing near a wolf and If you - or someone you know - is a wolf lover, then this is a unique hearing it howl, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to feel your backbone tingle and experience: during the day you will see behind the scenes at the wolf your ears vibrate with the sound. The evening trust and shadow the keeper in tasks such as cleaning out the wolf will start with a presentation on wolf enclosures, preparing and giving medication and get involved in our Night! communication; you will then go on a tour wolf enrichment programme. There is a maximum of 6 people on the of the centre and have the opportunity to day. let out a howl and see if the wolves respond! You will also see them feeding. All participants receive a souvenir certificate at the end of the day. Please bring your own packed lunch. Tea, coffee & squash available. Night is the best time to see the wolves as they are at their most active. £80 per person. Age 16 or over. Cost £10 per person (Don't forget to dress up warmly for an Please ensure you have up-to-date tetanus immunisation. Booking required evening under the stars).

Sunday WORLD ANIMAL DAY - SUNDAY, 2ND OCTOBER October DATES FOR 2 YOUR DIARY WOLF AWARENESS WEEK - 16TH - 23RD OCTOBER Further details at www.ukwolf.org or to book call 0118 971 3330