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The UK Wolf Conservation Trust Issue 44 Autumn Winter 2011/12

The arrivalof theArctic WolvesLinda Paul on thishistoric event• Croatia project update• Carter and Jenny Niemeyer write for Wolf Print

Wolf PrintEditorVicky Allison-HughesTel: 0118 971 3330Email: education@ukwolf.org

Assistant EditorJulia Bohanna

Editorial TeamAngela Barrow, Pete Haswell, Lynn KentTsa Palmer, Denise Taylor

Published byThe UK Wolf Conservation TrustButlers Farm, Beenham, Reading, RG7 5NTTel: 0118 971 3330Fax: 0118 971 0522Email: ukwct@ukwolf.org

PatronsMartin ‘Wolfie’ AdamsDavid Clement-DaviesCornelia 'Neil' HuttErich KlinghammerDesmond MorrisMarco MusianiMichelle Paver

The UK Wolf Conservation Trust DirectorsNigel BulmerAnne CarterCharles HicksSue HullTsa Palmer

Specialist AdvisorsAlistair BathKirsty PeakeClaudio SilleroDenise Taylor

The UK Wolf Conservation Trust is a companylimited by guarantee. Registered in England & Wales.Company No. 3686061.

The opinions expressed in this magazine are notnecessarily those of the publishers or The UK WolfConservation Trust.

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Aims of the UK Wolf Conservation Trust· To increase public awareness and knowledge of wild

wolves and their place in the ecosystem.

· To provide opportunities for ethological and otherresearch that may improve the lives of wolves both incaptivity and in the wild.

· To provide wolf-related education programmes foryoung people and adults.

· To raise money to help fund wolf-related conservationprojects around the world.

Download Wolf Print, including back issues,from www.ukwolf.org

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WWelcome to the Autumn/Winter edition of Wolf Print. Wow– I thought we'd had a busy spring but that was nothingcompared to this summer. With the safe arrival of the Arctic

cubs we all felt we could finally take a breath knowing all the new wolveswere here safely, then we realised that 12 wolves are a lot of extra work!

Our trio of Arctic wolves have settled in well after their long journey,there is an article in this edition detailing their journey over for yourinterest on page 12. The Beenham cubs are growing quickly and havebeen taking part in the practice walks getting them ready to startmeeting their public sometime this autumn; there is a full update ontheir progress in Wolf News on page 8.

In June the education team had the opportunity to represent the Trustfor a third year at the Englefield Countryside Days for Schools. This is atwo-day event during which the local Englefield estate opens up to localprimary schools to enjoy an organised day of learning and memorableexperiences. And what busy days they were: our small team spoke toapproximately 1,500 students over the two days telling them about thework of the Trust.

To-date we have held two of our four open days planned for 2011, wehave had an amazing turnout for both events but the record-breakingday was at the end of August when over 3,500 guests turned up to seethe wolves! We are now in the run-up to our planned World Animal Dayevent on October 2nd and are looking forward to meeting some moreof you then. Our younger supporters have had a variety of activities toattend over the summer holidays with events such as the Wolfy Picnicproving to be a huge success with children and wolves alike. The wolvescertainly love their stuffed melons and the children seemed to enjoywatching their hard work being destroyed and devoured.

We are now looking forward to our autumn and winter events includingour seminar, Wolf Awareness Week activities, half term pumpkin partiesand Christmas Cracker event.

I really hope you all enjoy this edition of Wolf Print and will continue tofollow us and the wolves in the coming years as our new generation ofambassadors start to meet their admirers.

Vicky Allison-Hughes

Education Officer / Assistant Senior Wolf Handler / Wolf Print Editor

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2 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

Editor'sLetter

contents

812

14

28

REGULARS

2 Editor's Letter14 Life and Behaviour of Wolves Built for the kill? Wolf diet and predatory adaptions

20 Wolves of the World28 Merchandise Wolf gifts and souvenirs

23 Making Tracks A review of Dreaming of Wolves by Alan E Sparks and an interview with Nick Dudman, creature-effects artist

NEWS FROM THE TRUST

4 Director's Letter and Trust News8 Update on the Trust’s twelve wolves12 Sikko, Pukak and Massak The arrival of the Arctic wolves

FEATURES

16 The UKWCT 2012 calendar The latest in this exclusive range

18 Zagreb Veterinary Institute, Croatia An update from Josip Kusak on UKWCT-sponsored work

26 Carter and Jenny Niemeyer Carter writes about wolf re-introduction in the USA, Jenny writes about Carter

WHAT'S COMING UP

31 Events at the Trust Open days, holiday activities, howl nights and more

32 Wolf Awareness Week The full programme

26

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 3

We have had a special summer getting toknow the Arctic wolves who arrived on28th June from Canada, and watchingthem and the Beenham Pack develop.

As has been written elsewhere, ournewest arrivals were completely unfazedby the change in their environment. Theyhave lived up to everything I have readabout Arctic wolves - their temperamentsare so calm and affectionate. Wolves inthe Arctic are unafraid of humans, as allwolves were originally. There has been nopersecution of them in these regions,unlike in America or the rest of the world.Arctic scientists and photographersdescribe how they are inquisitive andcome near to the camps, displaying nofear.

Massak, Sikko and Pukak are descendedfrom cubs that, in 1976, were orphanedon Bathurst Island, in the NorthwestTerritories. Parc Safari in Quebec saved afew of these cubs and went on to breedseveral generations of the family. Roxy,our cubs' mother, is now 8 years old andhas bred several litters. She has one cubfrom this year's litter that survived theharsh conditions and so stayed with her.There is also a two-year-old male Kujataaand a three year old female called Mikki.The alpha male and father of all thesecubs is Gunzo, who is now 11 years old.

Several of Roxy and Gunzo's cubs havebeen imported to Europe - some toGermany and others to Belgium, I believe.However, we are currently the only facilityin the UK to have Arctic wolves.

People ask: how have the Arctics adaptedto summer in England? The answer is:

fine. On the day thatthey travelled from ParcSafari, the temperaturewas 30°C. Wolves areone of the mostadaptable species on theplanet as they livealmost anywhere, fromthe Arctic to India andAfrica. Massak, Sikko andPukak have obviously gotthick white fluffy puppycoats, but they manageto keep cool byfrequently standingwaist deep in the water

trough. On hot days they are given ice-cool fish and meat lollies to eat. Theyappear more compact than our ownBeenham pack cubs and will not grow astall. However, their shorter ears, thickerfur and stockier torsos are all designed tokeep them warm in the Arctic's freezingtemperatures that can fall to -50°C.

The Arctics spend a large part of the daylying in the shade of the trees in theirlarge two-acre enclosure. Recently theyhave found hazelnuts and apples ripening,which has given them an interestingsupplement to their diet. To reach thesetreats, they helpthemselves bystanding on their hindlegs. Underquarantineregulations, only tenpeople are currentlyallowed to go andinteract with them.This means they havecompany every dayand we spend timegetting to know them.We also try to takethem for walks on leads and collarsaround the enclosure a couple of times aweek. Massak is the shyest of the threebut they are all extremely friendly. Theenclosure they were living in at Parc Safariwas about a sixth of the size of theenclosure they enjoy now, so they arevery content.

I had originally thought that when theycame out of quarantine the new wolvescould live with Nuka, Tundra and Tala .However that would not be a good idea!Nuka, Tundra and Tala are extremely

boisterous and spend a large part of theirtime testing out who is going to be alphain the pack. They have typical feisty wolftemperaments - they would dominate theArctics and teach them bad habits. So thetwo packs will be kept separate.

The plan is to divide the middle largeenclosure and join it up to the bottomenclosure with an additional holding penin between. We therefore hope to be ableto move Motomo and Mai into thisadjacent new enclosure in the New Year,thus allowing their current enclosure tobe used by one set of the cubs. Theyoung wolves will enjoy the pond and itwill also mean that all the wolves canmove enclosures again, which is soimportant for their enrichment.

We have a lot of events planned at theTrust this autumn and winter. The WolfBarn is finished, so we can now easilyaccommodate seminars and workshops.The first of these events is World AnimalDay on 2nd October, followed by aninteresting and varied WOLF AWARENESSWEEK from 15th to 21st October. This willinclude art and willow workshops and ourannual seminar on 16th October, withspeakers Carter Niemeyer, Vladimir

Bologov, Troy Bennett, Gary Marvin andClaudio Sillero. It is going to be an excitingevent. In the New Year we are lookingforward to welcoming award-winningfilmmaker and cinematographer coupleJamie and Jim Dutcher, both of whom willbe speaking at the Trust on 28th January.

We look forward to seeing you at one ormore of these events.

Tsa Palmer

4 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

Trust News Director’s Letter

Danny Kirby Hunter

Tsa Palmer and Sikko

An estimated 110 to 130 wild red wolves rangethroughout the five-county red wolf restoration areain north-eastern North Carolina. Potentialhybridization with resident coyotes and illegalgunshot mortality remain the two major threats tored wolves. This is the world's only wild populationof this critically endangered top predator, and theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Red Wolf RecoveryProgram and the Red Wolf Coalition continue theirefforts to ensure the long-term survival of thesebeautiful native animals and to engage the public inred wolf recovery. The effects of the recent massivestorm, Hurricane Irene, are still being evaluated, butthe Recovery Team and the Red Wolf Coalition areconfident that the red wolves and other residentwildlife handled the wild weather successfully. Thecrop of spring 2011 wolf pups are old enough now tohave been able to get to safe ground with theirparents and other pack members.

The Red Wolf Coalition conducts red wolf educationprograms and teacher workshops and makes"discovery boxes" with artefacts and informationavailable to formal and non-formal educators. Inaddition, the Red Wolf Coalition has secured fundingto build a red wolf viewing facility in red wolfcountry so that visitors and residents can learnabout red wolves and see them in their natural-habitat enclosure. Additionally, this attraction willbring much-needed tourist revenue to the struggling rural economy. This will, in turn, help residents to become invested in thevalue of having red wolves on the regional landscape.

The Red Wolf Coalition welcomes support from red wolf fans all around the world, and the organization is deeply appreciative ofthe UKWCT's efforts to bring awareness of red wolves to the public. Please learn more by visiting the web site atwww.redwolves.com

Kirsty Peake was born in Scotland. Herambition as a young girl was to own agolden eagle and a wolf. She didn't quiteachieve this, ending up instead with aparrot and a bunch of Lakeland Terriers!

She has always been fascinated bywolves and their behaviour and inparticular how could early man 'tame'them to hunt for him. Her working lifetook her to Africa and she studied'village dogs' and how they interactedwithin the village. A meeting withProfessor Ray Coppinger introduced herto the wolf-village dog-domestic dogresearch that he and his wife Lorna hadbeen carrying out for some years and asa result of that she became more

involved in studying wolf behaviour inrelation to domestic dog behaviour.

After the re-introduction of the wolvesto Yellowstone National Park, Kirsty andher husband Alan took small groups outto watch the wolves and study theirbehaviour. Now they have a house just30 miles north of the Park and spendapproximately six months of the year outthere following their passion of wolf-watching.

A qualified companion animalbehaviourist and trainer, Kirsty runs abehaviour practice in South Devon withtwo other behaviourists and a supportteam.

She is delighted to become a SpecialAdviser to the UKWCT and looks forwardto being able to assist them in theirprojects. The UKWCT has come a longway over recent years and is now, inKirsty's opinion, one of the leaders in theworld of wolves offering researchfacilities and education opportunities.

Kirsty Peake:new specialist advisor to the Trust

Red Wolf Recovery

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 5

Photo courtesy of Greg Koch, www.gkphotography.net

6 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

Trust NewsOpen days round-up

Above – one of our new Arctic wolf cubsshowing off for photographer StanNeptuno.

Below – photographer Andi Huntesnapped UKWCT volunteer RachaelGoodier in a wolf costume

So far, we have had a fantastic turnoutfor our 2011 open days. In May, we hada lovely but slightly wet day with aturnout of approximately 1,600 peopleto see the wolves. Then for our Augustopen day, with all 12 wolves now onshow, we had a record-breaking turnoutof over 3,500 people. They came to seeall the wolves but specifically theBeenham cubs and the newest arrivals -our trio of Arctic wolves, the only ones inthe UK.

People flocked from far and wide andthe wolves took it all in their stride.Torak did his usual trick of welcomingthe first groups through the gates,before disappearing off to sleep and onlycoming out as the last of the guests wereleaving. Mosi kept the lines of visitorswaiting to get in very amused bywelcoming them with her usual happysqueaks as they came through the gate.Duma and Lunca are now old hands atopen days. Motomo was a completestar, posing for photos all day while Maislept in the sun. For the six cubs forwhom it was their first open day, the

attention was rather overwhelminginitially but by mid- afternoon they hadgot used to the crowds and to the linesof cameras, big and small, pointing atthem.

Below – Motomo poses for Dee Neptuno

Ethiopian Wolf Expedition with Professor Claudio Sillero, EWCP.Professor Claudio Sillero invites six to nine wolf supporters to travel with him on a very special expedition to Ethiopia tolive with the rarest African carnivore – the only wolf in Africa.

Claudio has almost single-handedly saved the Ethiopian wolf, conducted all the research, and continues to monitor and protect the species. Unlikeother rare carnivores the wolves are easily found and observed; every day will be spent helping to monitor different wolf packs in the hinterland ofBale during the all-important breeding season. You will travel on horse-back (no previous experience required) and camp in the Afroalpine habitatof the wolves.

£5,650 per person. Everything is included and organised by Spencer Scott Travel (ATOL 3417). www.spencerscotttravel.com

Contact: Liz on tel. 01825 714310 email: info@spencerscott.co.uk

12–22November

2011

Donations Update

The huskies and small animals were alsovery popular with visitors queuing tohave their chance to hug a husky or holda python. A huge thank you must go toall those that came to visit; it truly wasan amazing day. Our team of volunteerswere left stunned and a little hoarseafter speaking to so many people aboutthe Trust's work.

Our next open day is October 2nd forWorld Animal Day. The final one for2011 is during Wolf Awareness Week onOctober 20th. Full details can be foundon page 32 or on our website.

Photo: Andi Hunte

During the final quarter of 2011 the UK Wolf Conservation Trust has been able to donate an additional £3,000 to the LargeCarnivore Centre in Bulgaria and £2,000 to the Red Wolf Coalition due to the success of the August open day. This money willallow these projects to continue their superb work. These are both projects we have been supporting for a number of years andtheir education projects are vital in improving the relationships between the wolves and people in their local communities.

With these sums included the Trust, with your help, donated a total of £15,850 during 2011 to worldwide projects helping wolves.

� Bulgaria – The Balkani Wildlife Society £4,000� Russia – Chisty Les Biological Station £2,000� Croatia – Zagreb Veterinary Institute £3,000� Ethiopia – Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Trust £2,000� USA – Red Wolf Coalition (see report on page 5) £2,000� Nepal – Friends of Nature Wolf Monitoring Project £2,850 Photo: Vladimir Bologov

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 7

The Beenham Pack – Nuka, Tundra andTala – are now four months old andgrowing fast. From being small bundlesof fur whose only interests were bottlesof milk and sleeping, they have verymuch developed their own personalitiesand distinctive markings.

They love to go out on training walkswith their handlers to exploreeverything, sniffing at the fascinatingscents of all the other wildlife that livesaround the site. It was a great day whenthey plucked up the courage to go intothe stream! At first it was very tentativebut soon they were splashing abouthappily, stalking and catching leaves andtwigs that float in the current.

Tala, the most adventurous, jumped intothe deepest part of stream withoutthinking - and suddenly discovered thatshe could swim! Tala has the strikingcolouring of her mother Mai, black with

an attractive shading of grey. She is afeisty little wolf and extremelyintelligent; she knows what she wantsand goes all out to get it. Tala started lifeas the smallest of the three cubs but hasrapidly caught up with her siblings and isnow a sturdy and healthy wolf.

Nuka still holds his place as the biggestcub, as befits a male. He is handsomeand has the markings of his fatherMotomo. Nuka is fairly laid back andafter he has greeted his handlers he willoften go and lie under the trees, lettinghis sisters get on with their play-fightsand greetings. If he wants to join in,though, he will and takes his turn atbeing both dominant and submissive.Nuka is going to be a big wolf just likeMotomo.

Tundra seems to have inherited hermother's disposition and her father'smarkings. She is affectionate towards

her handlers and very vocal, squeakingand whining in a most appealing mannerwhile she is being made a fuss of. Tundrabroke some small bones in her foot andhad to wear a cast for 3 weeks. Shecoped with this admirably and didn'tallow herself to be dominated by hersiblings, joining in the play fights withgusto and letting Tala especially knowthat she was not to be trifled with.Perhaps the cast came in handy as a clubto help with this! Tundra is recoveringwell now the cast has been removed andwill join Nuka and Tala on their walksaround the field.

8 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

Wolf NewsUpdate on the Trust Wolves

Already it seems as though summer has come and gone. The heather is out, the blackberries are ripening on thebushes and the bracken is turning. Our wolves have enjoyed their summer, with hormones at their lowest ebball has been peace and harmony in the enclosures! While the wolves have been settled and calm, the staff and

volunteers have been extremely busy caring for two sets of cubs as well as our older wolves, a demanding butthoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience.

The Beenham Pack

Photos:

Above – The Beenham packby Danny Kirby Hunter

Top Right – Mosi & Torak by Tristan Findley

Right – Mai & Motomo by Tristan Findley

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 9

Mosi and Torak

Mosi and Torak have been enjoying theirpublic walks again since the end of thebreeding season. Although neither wolfwill do meet and greets with visitors,they make a very photogenic pair andour visitors are always impressed to seethe two wolves walking together.

Torak is tall and majestic, with his aloofdemeanour contrasting beautifully withthe smaller, vivacious Mosi. All ourwolves except the two sets of cubs havelost their winter coats for the warmerweather and present an entirelydifferent picture to visitors than that of awolf in its full winter coat. Torak, beingquite short-coated is a wonderful sightas he walks with his handlers, themuscles visible under the coat movinglike a well oiled machine as he stridesout, seemingly without effort. Torak is afriendly wolf to those he likes and trusts,but he is now five years old andsocialised male wolves are known tonarrow their circle of friends as they getolder. He now has a dedicated team ofspecial handlers!

Mosi has retained her mischievous waysand will take advantage of any situationif allowed to do so. She doesn't seem torealise that she is now an aunt andshould moderate her behaviour. Mosishows great interest in the BeenhamPack as they are walked around the field,

as does Torak. Mosi will make noises atthem through the fence which the cubsfind interesting and she will accompanythe small pack along the fence line aslong as she can. Mosi is and always willbe a character and she is a greatfavourite with handlers and visitors alike.

The proud parents of the Beenham pack,Mai and Motomo, continue to be a veryhappy couple, playing and chasingaround their enclosure or keeping an eyeon their cubs that now live in theadjoining area.

Motomo's confidence has increased a lotand he has been seen play-bowing to thecubs through the fence and thenpretending to chase them. The cubsthink this is great fun and rush aroundmadly until Mai comes along and calmseverything down.

Mai is happy for thecubs to be taken ontheir training walks andshe strolls along thefence until they aresafely in the field.When Tundra wasunable to go with hersiblings because of thecast, Mai would followTala and Nuka untilthey were in the fieldand then come back tolie beside the fence,

watching over Tundra until the othersreturned. A couple of handlers alwaysstayed with Tundra but Mai obviouslytakes her role seriously.

Motomo, being our only unsocialisedwolf, cannot come out on walks but Mainow comes out regularly again and ishappy to be with the people that sheloves. Ever the attentive mother, if shehears her cubs making a noise while sheis on a walk, she will demand to be takenback to check that all is well. Mai stillloves to be scratched and fussed through

the fence and will usually stay still forthis attention as long as the handlers arewilling to continue. However, Motomosometimes takes umbrage at this andwill call her back silently, standing andstaring at her intently until she leavesthe humans and returns to him in asubmissive posture, as if to apologise.He doesn't chastise her, just sniffs her allover. The interaction between them isfascinating to watch but the mostimportant thing is that Mai and Motomoare such a well-matched pair, and trulyhappy in their partnership.

Mai and Motomo

10 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

Duma and Lunca continue to live inharmony together, except at feedingtime when they must be fed separately,otherwise Lunca would eat all Duma'sfood! Apart from that, the two seniorwolves of the Trust seem to appreciateeach other's company and spend the

days when they are not working lyingaround in their enclosure or watchingwhat is happening on site. Their area isalmost opposite the food shed so theyknow when their dinner is beingprepared. Duma will wake up, stretchand saunter over to fence to wait butLunca will trot up and down the fenceline impatiently, willing you to hurry up.Duma has always been a wonderfulambassador wolf and loves her workmeeting the public. Lunca is always veryeager to go out on a walk with her andwill be happy to meet a few people;however, she gets restless quite quickly.Lunca's eyesight is deteriorating but shecopes extremely well and uses her noseto guide her. Sometimes she will gently

bump into something on a walk butcarries on regardless. It is wonderfulthat our two oldest wolves havecompany in their later years. Duma hassomeone to show off to and Lunca hassomeone to be her boss - except atfeeding time of course!

The Arctic Pack

The Arctic Pack - Pukak, Massak andSikko - have settled in to their new homeso well you would think they had beenborn at the Trust.

It was an exciting day when they arrivedon 28th June to a small welcomingcommittee. There was some concernthat they would be stressed by the flightfrom Canada and the vital, but time-consuming, clearance through AnimalControl at Heathrow airport. Eventually,the special van arrived and there was agreat sense of drama and a collectiveholding of breath while the doors oftheir travelling crates were slowlylifted… and out came the first Arctic wolfcubs in the UK, one by one. Stress isobviously not a word they know becausethey immediately started investigatingtheir new area and examining theadmiring faces peering at them throughthe quarantine fencing.

Their calm, relaxed demeanour istestament to the excellent way theywere socialised at their birthplace, ParcSafari in Quebec.

The cubs had to be hand-raised frombirth because they were born during theworst snowstorm for decades and werevery poorly indeed when staff at theParc dug them out of the snow.

Pukak is the joker of the pack and is veryaffectionate. He is the first to greet hishandlers with small, happy noises andlots of licks. He has the colouring of atypical Arctic wolf cub - white mixed inwith grey and shadings of light brown.Pukak loves his food and will get crosswith his siblings if they get too closewhen he is eating. He is a wolf who is fullof fun and happy to see everybody. Hewill often start a game of chase if hethinks his brother and sister are getting

too much attention from handlers andwhen they are both rushing around, hewill sneak back for some more fuss.

Sikko is smaller than her brothers, with afine, delicate face surrounded by a massof white fur. She is very similar to Pukakin that she loves to greet her handlerswith a sometimes overwhelming displayof affection! All the cubs love to jump inthe water trough but Sikko was a littleclumsy about this at first. The logistics ofgetting four legs over the brim and intothe water confused her somewhat andone back leg would be left danglingoutside while she hopped around in thewater, working out why she didn't seemto have the correct number of legs.

Massak is the most wary of the threeand the last to come up for a greeting.Once he has established who is there, herushes up and the handlers are treatedto the same exuberant greeting.Massak's colouring is a little different inthat his coat has more of a light browntinge to it. This makes identification alittle easier for those who observe themfrom outside the fencing! He also has awider muzzle than his siblings whichgives him a very distinguished air.

The Arctics are six months old now and,as they mature, the cubs' coats willchange to the typical white of the Arcticwolf. The quarantine period will becompleted at the beginning of 2012which will be an exciting time foreveryone.

Duma and Lunca

Lunca byPaula French Duma by Chris Odell

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 11

…whilst the Beenham Pack – Nuka, Tundra and Tala – continue to entertain us

The Arctic Pack – Pukak, Massak and Sikko – make themselves at home at the Trust…

Photographs on this page by Danny Kirby Hunter, Tsa Palmer, Darren Prescott and Jason Siddall

12 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

AT LONG LAST OUR BEAUTIFUL ARCTIC WOLVES ARRIVED WITH US ON TUESDAY 28TH JUNE 2011.

Arrival of the

by Linda Paul, Senior Handler

This story started some twelvemonths ago when Parc Safari inCanada offered to donate their next

born litter of cubs to us to enhance oureducation programme. We waited withbaited breath for confirmation the cubshad been born and it was with great relief Ireceived a call from Parc Safari advising oftheir birth on 8th March 2011.

Once the cubs are born is when the hardwork really starts. The first order ofbusiness was to ensure one enclosure onsite would be approved for quarantinepurposes. Work had to be undertaken tofacilitate approval and this work wascompleted and approvalgiven in April. In orderto move the cubs we

had to ensure a CITESExport Permit was issued in Canada whichthen allowed us to apply for our ImportLicence and CITES Import Permit. Once thispaperwork was issued we then had toprovide all documentation to the airline fortravel; the travel approval was receivedmid-June and at that point we were allsystems go!

We had taken the decision that to ensure asmooth transition for the cubs from ParcSafari to the UKWCT: One other volunteer(Angela Barrow) and I would fly over toCanada a couple of days before the cubs'travel, giving us time to spend with theanimals and, in my case, re-acquaintmyself with them before the trip.

Saturday 25th JuneWe arrived at Montreal Airport around9pm and were met by Nathalie Santerre(Chief of Operations Carnivores &Primates, Parc Safari). Nathalie whisked usoff to Hemmingford to check into ourhotel. Although we were both really tired

we found it hard tosleep that night as wereso excited about seeingthe cubs the followingday. Even though I hadspent a week with themin April, I knew theywould have changed somuch and I just couldn'twait to see how big theyhad become or howtheir personalities haddeveloped.

Sunday 26thJuneWe were both up at6am; neither of us could

sleep and the excitement was building!After some breakfast we left to get to ParcSafari and see our now 3½-month-oldcubs. Walking through Parc Safari takessome time as it's an enormous facility. Wehad a chance to admire the white lions,tigers and hyenas on route to the cubs.Having built ourselves up for this momentwe were not to be disappointed and therest of the day was spent playing andwalking with the cubs and generally having

a relaxing time with them before theystarted their long journey the followingday.

I noticed that the cubs' basic personalitieshadn't really changed and their individualcharacter traits were just a bit moreobvious now they were a little older.

Sikko is a proper little girl, quite dainty,loves cuddles and is very playful. She's alsothe smallest of the three wolves withdelicate facial features.

Pukak was always the most affectionate ofthe three and is now very, veryaffectionate towards his human friends. Somuch so that he just can't get close enoughto you and he almost needs to be peeledoff your lap!

Massak was always the loner and takeslonger than the other two to decide if helikes someone, but once he does, he'sincredibly loving. He's also the largest ofthe pack.

All the wolves are various shades of white,beige, grey and also a little black. Theircoats change during their first two years oflife and it can take up to two moults toproduce the snow white coat associatedwith an Arctic wolf. As with all wolves, theArctics have the black thumbprint(denoting a scent gland) approximatelyone third of the way down their tail andthis thumbprint will remain black and staywith them forever.

Monday 27th JuneAir cargo movement of all animals must tobe done in IATA-approved wooden crates.Being placed in crates can obviously bestressful for any animal. We had decided,therefore, that as soon as the crates had

been built they would be delivered to ParcSafari so that the cubs could be introducedto them and be allowed to sleep and eat inthem to keep their journey as stress-freeas possible.

Their journey to the airport was to start at2pm. At 1.30 we started to play with themaround the crates and all three decided togo straight into their own crate and settledown; I couldn't have been happier! All theanimals were comfortable and relaxedwhich was a great relief.

A little later than planned – at 2.30pm –we were on our way.

On arrival at Montreal Airport we had tocheck the cubs into the British AirwaysWorld Cargo Centre whilst all the Customsexit documentation was approved. At thispoint we had a heart-stopping momentwhen we were told there was onedocument missing! However, onceCanadian Customs rechecked thepaperwork they agreed everything was inorder and the cubs were free to travel. Therelief we all felt at this point wasincredible!

By this time is was around 7pm and we hadto say goodbye to the cubs in the CargoCentre to get ourselves checked in for theflight home. Once on board the flight theBritish Airways cabin staff were veryintrigued to learn they had three livewolves in the cargo hold of the plane andwent to great lengths to ensure we knewwhat was happening in the hold and howcomfortable the cubs were!

Tuesday 28th JuneWe arrived at Heathrow Airport at 9.45am.As soon as the aircraft came to a standstill Iliterally shot out of my seat carrying myhand luggage and made my way toHeathrow's Animal Reception Centre tocheck on the arrival of the cubs. Waitingfor the cubs to arrive was a nerve-rackingtime. The only thing on my mind waswanting to see them physically and checkthey were ok after their flight. The ARCstaff were incredibly understanding andmade me very comfortable until the cubsarrived. Once in the Centre the animals

have to be checked over by a vet to ensurethey are in a good state of health and theirmicrochips are also checked. The vet wasvery impressed with the animals' healthand general demeanour. We all agreedthat the animals had travelled incrediblywell and that I wasprobably more frazzledthan they were!As the ARC is aquarantined area thevet suggested I allowthe animals out of thecrates and into a kennelas it can take some timefor the Customspaperwork to becleared.

All the cubs were ingreat form anddelighted to finally getsome cuddles; even aterrible thunder andlightning storm couldn't dampen theirspirits (or mine)!

The certificate authorising acceptance inthe UK was issued at 2pm. Now theformalities were completed we could geton our way to Beenham. My only concernat this point was that having had a fewhours out of the crates, how on earth was Igoing to get them back in? I needn't haveworried; each wolf trotted very happilyinto its own crate and it took less than fiveminutes to get them all sorted out then wewere finally on the last leg of our journeyto the UKWCT.

At 3pm the first Arctic wolves in the UKwere released into their new enclosureand seemed to wonder what all the fusswas about! They happily checked out theirnew home and played with each other(and us!) before being givenbones and settling down to havea well-deserved chomp!

A project such as this cannot beundertaken without the supportof a great team and on behalf ofthe UKWCT I would like to thank:

WB Global Logistics for theirhandling of the transportation ofthe animals in Canada (andfor keeping me calm whenwe thought there waspaperwork missing!)

British Airways for theirthoughtful manner inhandling the animals.

Animal Reception Centre(Heathrow) for looking after

all of us so well for what seemed like aneternity!

Specialist Wildlife Services and JamesCargo for the transportation of the wolveswithin the UK.

And finally… Parc Safari for giving us thesewonderful animals and spending so muchtime and effort hand-rearing andsocialising the animals since birth. Thewolves' easy dispositions are a testamentto the wonderful job done by Nathalie &her team in their formative months.

Due to UK quarantine regulations theanimals have to be kept in isolation for sixmonths with only authorised personnelhaving access to them. This quarantineperiod will be over at the end of December2011 at which point the animals willbecome the UKWCT's newest ambassadorwolves and we very much look forward tointroducing them to you in January 2012.

Linda PaulSenior Handler

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 13

Wolf and prey flesh composition aresimilar and as such are nutritionallyexchangeable. Providing that entirecarcasses and a range of organs, bone andmuscle tissues are consumed, all essentialnutrients will be obtained and nodeficiencies are experienced.

Estimates generated from basal metabolicrate and the energetic requirements ofwild wolves puts consumption from 2.5 to6 kg per wolf per day. A minimum dailyrequirement is estimated at 3.25kg perwolf per day. Productivity and survivalhave been found to decline when foodavailability falls below this level. Captivewolves can be maintained on a muchsmaller diet of 1.1 to 1.7 kg per wolf perday due to the reduced energeticrequirements in comparison to their wildcousins.

Wild observations put food availability perwolf per day at 5.4kg in North America and5.6kg in Eastern Poland. The proportion ofthis food availability lost to scavengers orcached for future consumption musthowever be subtracted from theseestimates. The loss of food to scavengers isprimarily dependent on pack size. Smallerpacks tend to have higher food availabilitybut take more time to handle and consumea carcass, allowing more opportunity toscavengers. Schmidt and Mech (1997)hypothesise that the ultimate explanationfor group hunting in wolves is thatbreeding pairs can efficiently direct towardtheir offspring the short term surplus fromkills that would be otherwise lost toscavengers.

Wolves are flexible, opportunistic feeders.Prey items range in size from 1 to 1000 kg,consisting of mice, rabbit, fish and birdsthrough to deer, beaver, sheep and bisonamongst many others. The wolf's dietgreatly depends on availability andexperience with particular prey items.Food sources may change throughout theyear and prey-switching may occur due tochanges in circumstance. This can occurnegatively if wild prey stocks fall andswitching to livestock occurs. Wolves donot always kill to obtain sustenance. Theyscavenge prolifically from wild andagricultural carcasses and even garbagesites. To a small extent wolves also forage,consuming berries, herbs and grass whichare utilised to assist intestinal cleansing.

Wolves and their prey have coevolved inwhat is known as an ‘evolutionary armsrace’. Successful predators, and prey thatare more adept at avoiding predation, aremore likely to survive and pass on genesfor beneficial adaptations. A positivefeedback loop exists, leading to thespecialisation of both predator and preyalike.

Wolves have a number of physical andbehavioural adaptations allowing them tosuccessfully source enough food items tosurvive and reproduce. The wolf'spredatory lifestyle and carnivorous dietrevolves around capturing prey andconsuming them as quickly as possible. Thewolf's ability to survive in a wide range ofenvironmental conditions and predateupon a large variety of animals is madepossible by its generalist carnivoredentition and digestive processes.

Life andbehaviourof wolves:Built for the kill?Wolf diet andpredatory adaptions

Pete Haswell

From Jack London’s man-eaters in“White Fang” to Mowat's mice-eaters in “Never Cry Wolf”, muchconfusion and misinformation haslong surrounded the hunting anddietary behaviours of wolves. Onlyin recent years has light truly beenshed on the subject, and onlythrough direct observations and hardscience are we learning more aboutwhat wolves eat and how.

14 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

Canids usually dispatch prey with multipleopportunistic bites of a shallower depthand less precision than thedeep single penetrating bitesof felids. Wolf claws dulled bylong distance travelling areunlike the retractable sharpclaws of felids who hunt by ambush. Clawstherefore do not play a role in the take-down of prey. A wolf skull does not reflectthe extreme specialisation seen in othercarnivores. It does not have the robustpremolars, jaw and associated muscles ofthe hyena used for bone crushing, or thelarge, closing muscles and solidity of felidskulls. It also lacks the hinge adaptations ofmustelids permitting the jaw to be lockedaround large, active prey. A wolf's jaw isconnected in such a way as to help preventdislocation whilst it undergoes severestress in the act of clinging and pullingdown moving prey. The skull is long,allowing maximal opening. Bone isreinforced with diagonal lines crossing theskull in order to help resist fractures.

Wolf jaws contain a great variation oftooth types. Incisors and canines are thetools utilised in subduing prey. Caninespuncture and grapple assisted by incisors.These teeth are subjected to enormousstress and the elliptical cross section of thecanine is designed to resist the strongfront-to-back forces exerted upon it whenclinging to prey. Incisors are positioned infront of the canines to permit separatefunctioning in nipping and pulling live prey,removing tissues from dead prey and inhandling non-struggling food items such asberries or small mammals. Carnassial teethare primarily utilised in the consumption offood; they are self-sharpening with upperand lower blades shearing past each other,trapping and cutting meat and hide whenthe jaw closes. The molar's grindingsurface is adapted to crushing and grindingalthough not as reinforced or speciallyshaped for bone crushing as in othercarnivores.

Wolves possess relatively short gutsbecause their carnivorous diet is highlydigestible. Saliva facilitates swallowing andlittle mechanical breakdown of food in themouth occurs. This permits quick maximalintake and minimal loss to scavengers orother pack members. Wolves usually feedupon body organs and muscle first. Early

digestion is inefficient due to the largequantities of protein ingested which likely

restricts enzyme function.Early scats are popular withravens at kill sites. Easilydigestible food passesthrough the digestive tract

more slowly than food with indigestiblecomponents. Wolves have been observedto mix their food with indigestiblecomponents such as hair. This permitsrapid emptying of the gut and furtherfeeding thus reducing loss to scavengers.Hide and bones are last to be consumedand the degree to which these areconsumed is a good indicator of foodavailability. Pack size alsoinfluences carcass utilisation.Hair and bone are the onlydietary constituents notentirely digestible; hair acts asroughage and is alsoingeniously wrapped aroundbone fragments in order toprevent damage when the wolfpasses faecal matter.

Wolves store surplus foodenergy as fat, which composes15% of overall weight. Wolvesare often food-limited sotypically exist at the lower endof fat content, often withdepleted bone marrow fat stores; aprecursor to starvation. Wolves have theability to survive for long periods with lowfood consumption. In food shortage,weight is lost daily but wolves have theability to alter enzyme systems accordingto diet and can recover from weight lostduring fasting. Wolves are clearly adaptedfor a feast and famine diet but we stillknow little of the bodily functions that dealwith the starvation process.

A wolf's senses make it a highly skilledpredator and scavenger. The sense of smellis perhaps the wolves' most formidabletool. The surface area of a wolf's nosereceptive to smell is 14 times that of ourown and up to 100 times more sensitive.Wolf sight is equal to our own but theirnight vision is far more developed. Sight isutilised in more open areas whereas smellpredominates in wooded areas. Wolfhearing allows determination of noises asfar as six miles away in forested areas andten miles in open tundra. Senses are used

both in locating or tracking prey anddetermining which item can be caught andkilled.

Wolves have great endurance and highlyefficient respiratory systems allowing long-distance pursuits. Body composition andgait are developed to further efficiency. Aslender frame, with long legs and narrowchest promote a streamlined motioncovering large distances. Large feet alloweffective traversing of snow. Musclecomposition consists of slow-twitch long-distance fibres for pursuit and fast-twitchfibres for the rush and the final take-downpermit the wolves' style of hunting.

Behaviours involved in the processes ofobtaining prey, feeding patterns andgeographic habits are another evolutionaryadaptation to wolves' predatory lifestylebut require their own article for discussion.

It becomes clear that wolves are highlyadapted for their generalist carnivorousdiet and opportunistic hunting activity.Eons of evolutionary progression have ledto this marvellous and efficient yetadaptable animal, making it one of themost successful species in the northernhemisphere prior to man's influence. Thismarks it as one of nature's great survivors.

Pete Haswell, BSc Hons EnvironmentalScience (Biodiversity and Conservation)

Pete is currently working as a Wolf FieldTechnician with Defenders of Wildlife in theNorthern Rockies, USA and is collaboratingwith Josip Kusak on a project the UKWCTsupports in Croatia.

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 15

Wolves are flexible,opportunistic feeders.

16 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

• 13 stunningpictures of theTrust’s wolves

• Includes Tala, Nukaand Tundra – theBeenham Packborn at the Trust inMay 2011

• A4 opening to A3

• Supplied withmailing envelopefor you to send toa friend or relative

£8.50 fromwww.ukwolf.org

UKWCT 2012 Calendar

UKWCTExclusive

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 17

July: Motomo, by Martin Hunte

18 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

In the early 1990s, the only thing knownabout wolves in Croatia, apart fromgeneral biological facts, was how many

were found dead or killed as pests. Thisnumber was steadily decreasing, indicatingthat there were fewer wolves to find. Agroup of enthusiasts created the 'CroatianWolf Group'; their only goal was to changethe legal status of wolf from pest toprotected species.

We were all surprised when Croatianwolves became protected after only oneyear of our pro-wolf campaign. Onechallenge was addressed; then a dozenothers emerged. The number of claims fordamage compensation rose exponentiallyin the first few years after the protection.90% of them came from Dalmatia, wherewolves were not known to exist! Why notfrom other traditional wolf areas? Arethere really wolves or are stray dogscausing the damage? Do wolves have anyother choice of prey beside livestock? Howmany wolves are there? Is the numbergrowing or are more people aware of thecompensation? What is the size of packterritory? What do their activity patternsand habitat-use look like? Are theseparameters different for different parts of

wolf range in Croatia? What are mainthreats for wolves: illegal killing, traffic,diseases? Will new highways fragmentwolf population and what could be done tomitigate this treat?

The number of illegally killed wolves rose3-5 times after the protection. Should webe more focused on people management?Why do hunters dislike wolves? Can wechange this? Where else can we expectwolves to show up in the future? Thesewere questions needing urgent answers tomaintain protective measures.

We collected information, analyzingdamage reports and the circumstances ofwolf attacks. It was not enough. I went toDalmatia in 1996 and implementedresearch there for over four years. Iinterviewed locals, visited wolf attack sites,surveyed livestock guarding methods andradio-tracked wolves. Wolves had re-colonized during war times. This happenedsuddenly; people believed helicoptersbrought them in. No one could convincethem it was not true!

Conditions in Dalmatia perpetuated wolf-related problems. Villages were inhabited

by elderly people withsmall flocks (10-40) ofsheep. Animals weregrazed in denseMediterranean chaparralwith scarce watersources. They could notafford a guard dog.Wolves adapted. They hidin dense vegetationduring the day, away fromhouses and close to watersources, then came in atnight for unguardedlivestock. If they wereunable to make a kill they

would move from one illegalgarbage/slaughter dump to another. Theyrarely hunted wild prey. Small numbers ofwild boar were heavily hunted all yearround. Boars were considered 'good' butwolves as 'bad'. Locals killed themwhenever possible and left them onelectric poles, at crossroads etc. Wolveswere hated, and those who protectedthem, hated more.I experienced verbal and physical attacks:pierced tyres, broken glass on my car. Onelivestock owner said: 'I would like to meetthose who proposed wolf protection! Ifthey would stand between the wolf andme - I would shoot through them to kill awolf!' This was the local situation. In 1999we published a Temporary WolfManagement Plan. Our good ideas andsolutions were not accepted. Alistair Bath,a Canadian Professor and humandimension expert in managing naturalresources, explained that we must involverepresentatives of so called 'interestgroups' when forming any wolfmanagement plan.

Meanwhile, we monitored the wolves,collected/examined dead ones and studiedpotential wolf ranges and movements,habitat use and activity in the Northernpart (Gorski kotar) of Croatia. The area is80% forest; there are wild ungulates butalmost no livestock or garbage dumps. Thisstudy lasted nine years, with 19 trackedwolves from three packs. Wolves in Gorskikotar need about 350 km2 per pack, andmove about 4 km (measured as a straightline) in 24 hours. In Dalmatia they neededonly 150 km2 and moved only 2km/24h. Onaverage there were 5.5 wolves in theGorski kotar packs and average wolfdensity was 1.7/100km2. We collectedbetween 10 and 15 dead wolves annually.Thorough examination of carcasses at theveterinary faculty in Zagreb revealed the

Project Update: Sixteen years of wolf research and conservation in Croatia.Wolves are everywhere.How we view them dependson how much we know aboutthem and how much theirexistence affects our lives.

Project founder andco-ordinator, Josip Kusak,charts the progress of thisproject which is supported bythe UKWCT.

Green bridge Konšćica (150m) was built in 2008 and is one of ten green bridges built in Croatia on the highway to the south (Dalmatia).

One of the discovered wolf-dog hybrids

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 19

Project Update: Sixteen years of wolf research and conservation in Croatia.

prevalence of rabies (5%), trichinellosis(27.3%) and the first-in-the-worlddocumented case of fatal visceralleishmaniasis. Out of 149 geneticallyexamined 'wolves', we recently discoveredfive wolf-dog hybrids: all from female wolfand male dog. All hybrids were fromDalmatia, indicating that the socialstructure of wolf populations is unstable,most likely due to high mortality. Whatdoes this mean for conservation, the wolfpopulation dynamic and its 'purity'?

Two new highways were constructedthrough the main portion of the largecarnivore's core area in Croatia. The first(northern highway) was built from 1996 to2004. The second, starting at the junctionfrom the northern highway and leading tothe southwest, connects all the way toDubrovnik. Both highways cut through themost forested part of Croatia and throughbear, wolf and lynx ranges. Situated inmountains, these highways already havenumerous viaducts and tunnels that helpmaintain the habitat continuity. To furtherimprove the permeability of highways,eleven green overpasses, one tunnel andfive viaducts were added to already-planned crossing structures.

When highway contractors were planningthese highways we had thirty years of largecarnivore research (first bear radio-collared in 1981, wolf in 1998) andarguments/recommendations prepared topreserve habitat continuity. Monitoring ofthe newly constructed green bridgesshowed 10 to 15 large mammals crossingdaily! Green bridges placed in the rightplaces mean the habitat continuity can bepreserved. Studies revealed variousmisuses such as walking, hunting, drivingover green bridges and/or letting thelivestock and dogs use them. We found astrong negative correlation betweenhumans and animals crossing. Humanactivity at green bridges should be at leastminimized by enforcing existing legislation.

In Croatia we have abylaw on wild animalcrossings. Regulationsshould be publiclyposted and enforced.To make an effectivewolf management planfor wolves that wouldbe accepted andimplemented weworkshopped withrepresentatives fromthe interest groups.They were invited todiscuss the future ofthe wolf in Croatia.Research waspresented to participants and used as thefoundation for the discussion. Initially, weall agreed that we wanted to save thewolves for future generations. The rest ofthe time (seven two-day workshops), wewere discussing in small mixed groups,pinning ideas and comments on flip-chartsheets that eventually covered the walls.Human dimension professionalsmoderated the wolf workshops, to ensurethat we did not get off-track. By the end of2005 we had a new plan that wasimmediately implemented.

Currently, we have a program to helpfarmers by donating guard dogs andelectric fencing. Every year our 'damageinspectors' undergo training from LCresearchers so that they can distinguishtypes of predator attack on prey. We alsohave a 'large carnivores' emergency team.'This team acts where there is any unusualbehavior of large carnivores (repeatedlyappearing close to people, not beingafraid, or suspected of rabies etc.) or whenthe animal is in trouble (wounded, trappedetc.).

Monitoring of wolf population numbersand trend is done continuously. Monitoringmethods were developed by wolfresearchers and are based on researchresults. Hunters even participate: theyagreed during workshops to do snow trackcounting once per year, after the firstsnow. As a trade-off, hunters arepermitted to legally shoot certain numberof wolves. Subsequently they are now partof the management process; we have nomore disagreement on how many wolvesare in Croatia. All wolf mortality (legalquota and all other causes) is recorded toensure it does not exceed 15% of thepopulation size. Recent challenges to thissystem are that some hunters ask to be

paid for the snow track counting. They arestill willing to shoot quota approvedwolves but the same hunters would alsolike to sell hunting rights. These issues willhave to be addressed in the future. It ismuch easier to count wolves than to counttheir prey. Hunters always complain thatthere is not enough deer for both wolvesand hunters, that they are competing forthe same prey. An objective, reliable,acceptable and applicable method forcounting of deer is needed: a newchallenge for researchers.

The wolf population grew from about 50individuals in the early 1990s to over 220wolves in 2010. Their range was alsoexpanding. During the last five years, wehad to travel to different sides of the edgesof wolf range in Croatia. We gavepresentations, answered questions andexplained wolf and conservation facts,calming down people's concerns aboutwolves that suddenly showed up in thearea. I hope to travel to more and moreareas of Croatia for this purpose and togive more wolf presentations, particularlyin schools.

Josip Kusak

Josip works for the Biology Department ofthe University of Zagreb Veterinary Facility.He specialises in large carnivores, lookingat habitat analysis, predation, attacks onlivestock and animal mortality through theuse of GIS and radio-telemetry. He wasresponsible for the development of thecarnivore management plan in Croatia andworks to develop legislative framework forthe conservation and management of largecarnivores at domestic and EU level. He isalso involved in the development ofmethodology for the monitoring of largecarnivores in NATURA 2000 sites.

Josip gave many talks at schools inside and outside the wolves’ range.

Processing a tranquilised wolf.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS are againseeking protection for the AlexanderArchipelago wolf (Canis lupus ligoni)which is a rare subspecies of the graywolf with a limited worldwide rangeconfined to the old-growth forests ofSoutheast Alaska. "This unique wolf isa symbol of America's rapidlydwindling wilderness" saidGreenpeace forest campaigner LarryEdwards of Sitka. "We've got clearevidence that the AlexanderArchipelago wolf is in trouble. Thiswonderful creature is a key part ofAlaska's natural environment and itdeserves official protection."

Heavily reliant on old-growth forests,the Alexander Archipelago wolf densin the root systems of very large treesand primarily hunts Sitka black-taileddeer, which are dependent on high-quality, old-growth forests of theregion, in particular for winter survival.A long history of unsustainableclearcut logging on the TongassNational Forest and private and state-owned lands has devastated much ofthe wolf's old-growth habitat on theislands of Southeast Alaska. Theongoing scale of old-growth loggingimperils the wolf by further reducingand fragmenting the remaining foreststands, to the detriment of the wolfand its deer prey. Petitioners saylogging operations on the Tongass alsoresult in more road-building, whichmakes wolves vulnerable to huntingand trapping. They also say that asmany as half the wolves killed on theTongass are killed illegally, and huntingand trapping are occurring at

unsustainable levels in many parts ofthe region. Despite scientific evidenceshowing that Alexander Archipelagowolf populations cannot survive inareas with high road density, thepetitioners say the Forest Servicecontinues to build new logging roadsin the Tongass National Forest. Roaddensity is especially a concern to theCenter for Biological Diversity andGreenpeace on heavily fragmentedPrince of Wales Island and neighboringislands, home to an importantpopulation of Alexander Archipelagowolves.

"We already know what it will take tosave Alexander Archipelago wolves:It's a simple matter of not buildingnew logging roads in areas wherewolves are already getting hammeredand of ending unsustainable loggingpractices," said Rebecca Noblin, Alaskadirector of the Center for BiologicalDiversity. "Unfortunately, the ForestService seems more interested inkowtowing to the timber industry thanin preserving our forests for futuregenerations."

In August 2011, the Court of Appealoverturned four decisions by the USForest Service to allow logging inAlaska's Tongass National Forest, thenation's largest national forest. Atissue was the assessment of deerhabitat, the primary prey of the rareAlexander Archipelago wolf, or"Islands Wolf."

www.sitnews.us/0811News/081211/081211_petition_wolf.html

20 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

news fromaround theworld

wolvesof theworld

Protection sought for rare Alaskan WolfCommissionsuspendsMexican WolfReintroductionProgramTHE NEW MEXICO STATE State GameCommission voted unanimously at ameeting in June to suspend the MexicanWolf Reintroduction program in thestate. "I would like to suspend it for awhile; let's see how it lays out," saidCommissioner Thomas 'Dick' Salopek."Both sides have been unhappy aboutthe wolf recovery program. We havebeen keeping peace between all people.So, you know what, if both sides areunhappy, then let's suspend it and letthe federal government do it. I amfrustrated at both sides, especially withthe federal government."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department -following the requirements of thefederal Endangered Species Act - looksfor partners throughout the state toprotect endangered species, like theMexican wolf. The New Mexico StateGame Commission has been a partner toprotect the Mexican wolf since 1999.The meeting, which for the first time thisyear was held in Las Cruces, sought togather public opinion to help guide thestate's wolf protection policy.

About 50 Mexican wolves are spreadover New Mexico and Arizona.

Vladimir Bologov, Chisty Les Biological Station, Russia.

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 21

Dan Williams, public information officerfor the New Mexico Department ofGame and Fish - a partner incoordinating the Mexican WolfReintroduction Program - said it was a"balanced" public comment session."But we will no longer be participating inthe Mexican Wolf reintroductionprogram," he said. "It's an argumentthat's been going on since 1999." June30 will be last day the New Mexico Gameand Fish Department participates.

The sentiment expressed at the meetingwas passionate. "Hunting is under firefrom every front," said Tom Klunker,director of the Southwest New MexicoOutfitters. He said the federalEndangered Species Act was used as away to further a hidden agenda. "It's notabout the endangered wolf, or thespotted owl," he said. Environmentalists"use that, very successfully, as a tool toremove humans from the land. Theyview the wilderness as somethingaesthetic, like a utopian playground.They want humans out of those areas."

Michael J. Robinson, a conservationadvocate with the Center for BiologicalDiversity, bristled at thatcharacterization.

"That's paranoid ranting," he said."Animals, like the Mexican wolf, that areon the brink of extinction play animportant role in the balance of nature.New Mexicans - both urban and rural -support the recovery of this beautiful,intelligent and social animal. Theseanimals have been gravely persecuted."Carol Fugagli, of Cliff, N.M., said she andher son were recently camping in the

Gila Hot Springs when they "heard themysterious and beautiful" howl of awolf.

"I instantly got chills of excitement andwas stunned and filled with the beautyof the sound," she said. "Unfortunately Ihave not heard the wolf cry again, but Idon't want this to be a distant memoryfor my son. I want him to grow in anenvironment where there is a fullspectrum of biological diversity so he canshare similar experiences with hischildren. "I feel the wolves are a highlyvalued and needed element of nature.My family does not feel that wolves area threat to our safety in any way. I don'tthink humans can pick and choose whichanimals should or should not be in thewilderness."

Las Cruces Sun-News, 9th June 2011,archive article ID 18242175,http://www.lcsun-news.com/archivesearch

Has the wolfreturned to theNetherlands?There have been several reportedsightings recently of wolves in theNetherlands close to the border withGermany. This return has beenexpected for some time and ifconfirmed these will be the firstsightings in more than a century.

Gary Borland California Wolf Center

ILLEGAL POACHING accounts for overhalf of all deaths of Swedish wolves,suggests a new study.

Basing their estimates on long-termwolf counts, the researchers revealthat two-thirds of poaching goesundetected. The study suggests thatwithout the past decade ofpersecution Swedish wolves wouldbe four times more abundant thanthey are today. The study's findingsare reported in Proceedings of theRoyal Society B. (tiny.cc/k2r10 ).

"Many have speculated thatpoaching levels are high for manythreatened species of carnivores,"said Chris Carbone from theZoological Society of London. "Thisstudy presents an important step intrying to quantify this hidden threat,"he added. The new study predicts thesize of the wolf Swedish populationeach year based on counts from theprevious year. These counts arebased on radio-tracked wolves andthe more traditional 'footprintcount', used in Sweden for over 10years to estimate wolf numbers. Theresearchers' estimates took accountof confirmed cases of wolf mortality -such as when a wolf is killed on theroad, dies from disease or is foundkilled. However, when the team,based at Grimso Wildlife ResearchStation in Sweden, compared theexpected numbers produced by theirmodels to the actual number ofwolves in the wild, they found theywere over estimating the size of thepopulation. Conservation biologistGuillaume Chapron, and one of theteam, suspects that 'crypticpoaching', poaching that goesundetected, accounts for thisdifference. The poaching we see isthe "tip of the iceberg," he said. Theresearchers predict that without thelast decade of poaching, wolveswould have numbered around athousand by 2009, four times thenumber reported that year.

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Swedish wolvesthreatened byunder-reportedpoaching

Wolves are known to kill the dogs thatmany Swedes use to hunt moose, anddespite up to four year prison sentenceif caught poaching, a few people do nothesitate to take a shot at a wolf.Poaching is not the only threat to theSwedish wolf. These large carnivores

went extinct in Sweden in the 1970s, andthe population has since re-establisheditself after a handful of migratory Finnishwolves took over the empty territories.Today, all 250 or so Swedish wolves havedescended from these few foundingindividuals. And so the population is

highly inbred and suffers from skeletalabnormalities and problemsreproducing. Further reducing thenumber of wolves by poaching leavesthis population very vulnerable tofurther inbreeding, explained DrChapron. BBC 17/08/2011 - tiny.cc/24dcr

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22 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

Wolves of the World: Wolf makes a comeback in France

IN THE SUMMER MONTHS high on theFrench Alps the sheep graze on richpastures. In the Hautes Alpes, they arecurrently feeding beneath ski lifts onslopes that will soon be covered by a thicklayer of snow. But this year the freedomto roam has been curtailed. Somewherein the dark, dense forests a grey wolf is onthe prowl. The wolf was hunted almost toextinction in France in the 1930s but,protected as an endangered species, it ismaking a surprising comeback.

Some 200 wolves have colonised thesouthern regions of France, divided intoaround 20 packs. They are believed tohave crossed from Italy in the mid-1990sand they are moving ever further north.Lionel Serres has 250 sheep on themountainside this summer. Each night hepens them in behind electric fences. Butthe wolf is a cunning predator and so farit has killed 17 of his ewes, while 10 moreare missing.

And so costly are these losses that inrecent weeks Mr Serres has been forcedto hire another shepherd, who will sleepalongside the sheep at night.

He is not the only one with concerns. Soangry are the farmers in this region, thaton the road to Hautes Alpes, in south-eastern France, on the border with Italy,there are huge signs painted on the road- "NO to the wolf". Two hundred wolves

might not sound like a huge problem, butthis year there have been almost 600attacks, in which more than 2,000 sheephave been killed. That constitutes a rise of20% on the same period last year.

So, under pressure from farmers, andfaced with an increasing number ofattacks, the local prefect has finallyordered a hunt for one individual wolfthought to be doing much of the damage.Since an anti-hunting code was agreed in2004, only four wolves have been killed inFrance. Under the present rules, the wolfcan only be shot legally by governmentmarksmen or by shepherds trained andlicensed to defend their flocks.

Remy Saunier, the chief wolf-catcher forthe area, is now sending small, nightlypatrols into the mountains. "The wolf willalways take the easiest prey," he said. "Ifit's easy he comes back, and that's whathe's done here, every other night. Wehave tried to scare it with lights and noisebut it returns. It is only our presence inthese mountains that are limiting the wolfattacks. "Most people in France havewelcomed the return of the wolf," headded. "It is a beautiful, mystical animal.But if these people woke in the morningto find their flock decimated, they mightchange their opinion."

Critics say there is no evidence wolfattacks are out of control and they blame

some of these sheep deaths on wild dogs.Moreover, as farmers receive 130 euros(£115; $190) in compensation for everysheep killed by a wolf, critics claim thereis an incentive to exaggerate the problem.Jean-Francois Darmstaedter, the secretarygeneral of Ferus, a French wolf protectionagency, says the shepherds need to workharder to protect their sheep - thoughsome shepherds, he points out, are wolfsupporters. "Remember there are eightmillion dogs in France and 200 wolves,"he said. "And I would bet there are moredog attacks in these mountains than wolfattacks. In this small region here we havea pack of 15 wolves, and something like8,000 wild dogs. They aren't always in themountains, but when they are, they causea real mess."

Mr Darmstaedter questions why the wolfhas inspired such opposition in France. Inneighbouring Italy, he says, pack numbersare three or four times as big. But then,the wolf has always provoked fear. In the17th Century, so afraid were they ofwolves, mostly rabid wolves, they werecursed in Gallic folklore by the story ofLittle Red Riding Hood. At a fair inMarvejols, further to the west, wolf expertJean-Marc Moriceau is plugging his latestbook, titled Man Against the Wolf. "Thewolf is a successful predator," he said. "Itcan move huge distances in search offood. And we can safely assume that in 15or 20 years' time, if no measures are putin place, then it's possible we will see oneor two wolves hunting in the forests 80kmto 100km [50-60 miles] south of Paris."Some say the expanding nature of thewolf's habitat will require that morecontrols are implemented - in France theyare calling for a "wolf parliament", inwhich farmers, supporters and politicianscan all have their say. But the forestssouth of Paris are probably the grey wolf'slimit. Western and northern France are nolonger wooded or wild enough to sustainthem - which means those who live inParis, at least, can sleep easily in their beds.www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14637701

In 2001 and at 45 years of age, AlanSparks had what some people mightsuperficially call a mid-life crisis. But thiswas not a man in search of gratificationfrom a red sports car or having his earpierced. He was a thoughtful andcompassionate person tired of being'defined by his career.' Like so many of us,he needed to find some kind ofconnectedness, a purpose. But he alsowanted to unwind, to unknot himselffrom routine.

After frustrating attempts to relax into thebanalities of retail or to join the PeaceCorps, Sparks looked inward. What werethe defining passions of his life? His trilogyof wants would lead him to theCarpathian Mountains in Romania, a placethat offered him the joy of mountains,cold weather and wolves.

This is a multi-layered book. Writtenin part as a diary, it mixes past andpresent tense so that the reader getsa sense of immediacy but also isallowed to look into the heart of thewriter and understand a journey thatis as much an emotional andintellectual one as it is physical.

There is clearly a level of research,intellect and careful note-taking inDreaming of Wolves, encompassingbiology, history, politics, economics,animal conservation, philosophy andhuman relationships. There are also somebeautifully glossy photographs whichcomplement the book well and give thereader a vivid sense of the area.

Yes, it really is that rich.

Sparks initially wrote to Christoph andBarbara Promberger, the facilitators ofthe now-defunct Carpathian LargeCarnivore Project (CLCP), offering hisservices as a volunteer. He wrote withsincerity, promising that he was fit and

useful. He was accepted but immediatelyexpected to leap in and muck in withoutmuch of a fuss. Rabies shots? Don'tbother. Visa? If you need one, we will getone. Truly in at the deep end. Much laterin his journey, he realised that the veryfact he was 'working for nothing' mademany poor struggling Romanianssuspicious and resentful. It is a complexcountry, as he discovers continually.

There is the visceral and often brutalreality of living in large open spaces withlarge carnivores such as bears and wolves.There is folklore, long ingrained, whichcan work against any conservationisttrying to dispel myths and fears. Thecountry has over half a million Roma(gypsies) who fiercely defend their right toroam and graze their animals, in a

wildlife-rich wilderness where life isrelatively simple, but hard. The wolf inparticular can be seen not only as anenemy but as a supernatural presence;amber eyes in the darkness.

Sparks' adventures include border warswith fiery locals, language problems andthe ever-present spectre of human greedthat pushes the desperate farmer intocruel and cunning behaviour. One incidentin particular is not for the squeamish, orthe sensitive. It is a difficult job, trying tocommunicate the larger picture, the long-term aim: large carnivores will attracttourists and ultimately generate money

and work for local people. Sparks,although he avoids sentimentality andromanticised clichés, can still write withelegiac passion about his incrediblesurroundings and the people whopopulate it:

'…women in flowery darkdresses and wide-brimmedhats….little girls trailing at theend in purple and whitedresses….'

Romania is a place of peculiarcontrast, at once thick with religiousdevotion but also ruled by much darksuperstition. The shadow of Draculaand all things Gothic, cannot beshaken from the region. Sparks sees acart carrying a dead man and cannothelp but give himself a moment ofpure whimsical reflection about theman being a vampire. He sees:

'…a man's large nosesticking up from a thick bedof flowers.'

Death is not hidden away and whisperedabout in Romania. It is everywhere. Alarge part of volunteer work is to trackwolf kills in daylight, to read and recordwhat they find after the lupines havecompleted their nocturnal activities andtheir bellies are full enough to let themsleep.

Decapitated bears, foxes and deer arecommon finds. 'Find the head' becomessomething of an ominous mantra, butthat is not the extent of the gruesomeduties expected of him. There is wolf scat

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 23

Making Trackswolves in the media and the arts

DREAMING OF WOLVESAdventures in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania

By Alan E Sparks

Paperback, 256pp including two 16-page colour inset sections, 21.6 x 14cm.£14.00 from the UKWCT shop.

�

to analyse. There is also meat to hack – mainly dead horses– then to store until it grows so putrid it has to be burned.Scavengers of all descriptions have to be driven away.

At CLCP, there are two socialised wolves to feed who, likethe wolves at the Trust, are ambassadors for canis lupus.But Crai and Poiana are not the only animals around thewolf cabin. Coexistence with animals is compulsory and thatincludes leeches, mice, snakes and flies.

I was actually most impressed and moved by Sparks' deepand respectful bond with animals; first with his own beloveddogs and then later with the shepherd dogs that are aroundhim, in particular a dog called Guardian, who disappears. Hisfate is only discovered near the end. Sparks always keepsemotions in check and never resorts to anthromorphism inhis writing – so that sense of quiet love is all the morepowerful.

When the scientists are observing wolf behaviour and tosome extent other animals, there are interestingobservations that come to the fore, such as wolvesseemingly using a slide repeatedly. For fun? It certainlyappears that way. Or one wolf removing an irritatingparasite from the other, in a way that is generally morecommon in apes and monkeys. Logic and rational sciencedoes not always explain away such behaviours. It is areminder that information we analyse from observing wolfbehaviour in particular is still evolving, challenging us andour previously held beliefs. Sparks always gives us a calmand measured account, quoting from experts like DavidMech. There is a lot of pertinent information in the book,such as how and why wolves vocalise.

Sparks could have very easily remained in Romania. He wascertainly sad to leave. But he makes it very clear 'I didn'tcome here as a tourist.'

His final exit from the country made me cry. Mainly becausehe appeared so changed and moved by his experiences. Itwas clearly something that would stay with him forever.

This is indeed the book written by an incredible observer ofcharacter and landscape, a sensitive listener and ultimatelya passionate conservationist. 25% of the author's royaltiesgoes toward various wildlife conservation projects. To quotemore from the book, although tempting, would seem likegiving away treasures. Buy it, read it carefully. It's a book Iwill not be letting anyone borrow. It has a heart and a verypowerful one.

Alan E Sparks makes an incredible statement of futureintent that we should all, as conservationists, as humanbeings, take as our own:

'I seek to be aware. I seek to notice.'

Exquisitely said.

Julia Bohanna

Photos: Vladimir Bologov

24 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

� Dreaming of Wolves

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 25

Nick Dudman

NICK DUDMAN; firstly thank youfor agreeing to chat to thereaders of Wolf Print. What is

your official job title?Make-up Effects Designer, or sometimesCreature Effects Designer.

You have done some astonishing workon films like Star Wars and most recentlybeen involved in the Harry Potterfranchise. How many of the films haveyou worked on and which creatureshave you developed?I worked on The Empire Strikes Back andReturn of the Jedi, in the first cycle ofStar Wars and then The Phantom Menacein the later series. I did make-up for theBib Fortuna and The Emperor. I haveworked on Jabba the Hutt, the Ewoks,Yoda, Chewbacca and all the creatures inThe Phantom Menace.

I have been on all of the Harry Potterfilms, producing all the live actioncreatures but also the digital ones.

So, in creating a werewolf - where doyou look for source materials? Do youlook at natural wolves, at pictures ofmythical beasts? What is the process?Firstly, I look at werewolves that havebeen created before, to eliminate thepossibility of copying. I then study theactor, as it all has to link to that actor'sphysiognomy. Finally I observe realwolves, photographing them for detailsand videoing them for movement.

Is there collaboration with the animaldepartment on any of the films?Yes, constantly.

Do they come up with any good (or badideas)?They often come up with very good ones;they really understand animal behaviour.

Do you go to zoos or in thetechnologically advanced age withInternet information, would that beunnecessary and time-consuming?I always go to see the real thing! Thatmight mean zoos or wildlife parks, withthe Internet as a backup!

So, to create the rather terrifyingGreyback in Potter: how long does ittake to create him and is he simply onecharacter or an amalgamation ofseveral?It takes months. Firstly, there is thedesign process, where we eliminate anyideas or designs that have been donebefore. Then we begin drawing andsculpting concepts. It is important toreally study the actor constantly, so thatwe don't 'lose' him. Only then can weapply changes to his face.

Greyback has astonishing eyes. Clearly awerewolf and a wolf share certaincharacteristics anatomically. So what isthe process with the eyes?I study a wolf's natural eyes and thenhave contact lens made that mirror them,

but are also tinged with human elements.All the time I am attempting to makesomething that is an amalgam of wolfand person.

Fur is also an interesting element. Iwould guess that it is never wolf fur, sowhat do you use? Why do you choosethat type of animal fur? How is it used togive such a tactile effect on film? How isit applied and how long does that take?Sadly, you could probably obtain wolffur… but we do not! Most of our fur isgoat, which is brindled, easily dyed andreadily obtainable. On Greyback the goatfur was mixed with human hair in places.Each separate hair is individually pushedinto the silicon skin, using a needle. Ittakes forever!

Are the teeth of a werewolf anexaggerated version of those on a realwolf? How is the colour achieved?Yes, up to a point. Teeth are veryadaptable, so they will generally fit to anactor's own dentition and colour. Thenthey are just painted, using dentalacrylics and stains.

Movement in wolves is very unique -they have a long-legged lope. Awerewolf clearly can stand up on twolegs without support. Of course amagical creature has more scope. But doyou study 'real' wolves to get the correctmovement and the length of legs etc?Yes, an actor will look at real sources forreference. I always advise them to look atnatural animal movement first.

Do you have a particular animal withwhich you feel the most affinity? Or isthere any creature you have not tackledin your career that you would love towork on?Oh, bears!

Thank you so much for taking time outof your busy schedule to answer ourquestions.

Julia Bohanna

Nick Dudman got his startworking in 1980 on the Jedimaster "Yoda" as a trainee

to famed British make-up artistStuart Freeborn, on Star Wars:Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back.After apprenticing with Freeborn forfour years, Dudman was asked tohead up the English make-uplaboratory for Ridley Scott's Legend.He subsequently worked on themake-up and prosthetics for suchfilms as Mona Lisa and Indiana Jonesand the Last Crusade.

In 1995, Dudman's career pathwidened into animatronics and large-scale creature effects when he wasasked to oversee the 55-mancreature department for the LucBesson film The Fifth Element, forwhich he won a BAFTA Award forVisual Effects. Since then, he has leadthe creatures/make-up effectsdepartments on several blockbustersincluding Star Wars: Episode I - ThePhantom Menace, The Mummy andThe Mummy Returns, and consultedon the costume effects for BatmanBegins.

In 2007, he was awarded a specialachievement Genie by the CanadianAcademy for Make-up on Beowulf &Grendel (2005).

The award-winning make-up effects artist speaks to Julia Bohanna

26 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

If you follow the rollercoaster of wolfissues in the United States you knowthat the animal has a lot of people

hot under the collar, especially in thewest. Anti-wolf bullies and politiciansspin wild-eyed tales about how wolveswill cause the destruction of life as weknow it. When that doesn't work, theyresort to outright lies hoping to get whatthey want: the governmental nod foranother wolf extermination campaign.

It's easy for people who like wolves toget upset and wring their hands about allof this, except for one thing: wolves arehere legally, and they're never goingaway. Never. I try to remind people ofthis as often as possible. Sometimes Ihave to remind myself as well.

It's frustrating to see something in whichI was so intimately involved - therestoration of wolves to the NorthernRocky Mountains - ripped to shreds bywarring interests, the governmentincluded. I spent a good portion of myprofessional life working with wolvesand the people who were directlyaffected by them in Montana, Idaho andWyoming. I was there when the firstwolves made their way south out ofCanada and tried their best to recolonizenorthwest Montana - and were usuallyshot. I could see why an orchestratedreintroduction was going to be the onlyway to help them regain their footing inAmerica, even if it was only in a slice oftheir former range. Somehow,reintroduction happened, as incredibleas it seems now. The hardest part isdone. Now it's up to everyone whosupports wild wolves to be theirstewards.

If nothing else, Americans' wasteand extermination of native wildlifegave way to better ideas and theeventual creation of oneparticularly gargantuan law calledthe Endangered Species Act. I usedto think that no one couldcircumvent this law, but thingschanged when Congress, convincedthat the wolf issue can't be trustedto go away by itself, swept wolvesfrom the list in a "rider" that hadbeen carefully piggybacked ontothe federal budget. I think we're allstill in shock over that one. What'snext? Salmon and other inconvenient(and much more critically endangered)species, I suspect.

In the more than 15 years since I wasinvolved with wolf reintroduction inYellowstone National Park and Idaho thewolves are only now reaching what Ibelieve is their maximum carryingcapacity, and would have begun to dropslightly in number, even without ahunting season. They also are venturinginto adjacent states like Oregon andWashington and causing the jitters inpeople who haven't had to think aboutthis iconic creature for more than twogenerations.

I try not to worry too much aboutwhether wolves will persist in theAmerican West. They'll never be in allthe places they used to roam, but theterrain in Idaho, and Montana, and therelative safety of Yellowstone NationalPark, will protect them. If nothing else,my memoir, Wolfer, shows that a lot oftime can go by, but the relationshipbetween people and wild wolves really

never changes. This animal will alwaysengender a strange mix of fear andfascination mixed with wild stories. Wecan't bring ourselves to just leave thewolf alone.

In the meantime, if you want to seewolves in the wild, you're going to haveto be more patient than ever and walkup and down a few more hills. But neverfear, they're out there - even if you don'tsee or hear them. And that ought to givepeople who love wild creatures and wildplaces a bit of peace.

Expert trapper Carter Niemeyer was theU.S. wolf recovery coordinator for Idahobefore retiring in2006. Hepublished hismemoir,Wolfer,(available at£14.45 fromthe UKWCTshop) inDecember2010.

The Wolves are here……and they’re not going to go away!

“Americans, as a people, seem to always want to do thingsthe hard way and our wildlife issues, particularly those in thewest, are a good case inpoint.”

Expert trapper, CarterNiemeyer, explains.

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 27

He sat staring at the computerscreen. Nothing. What was thisvapor-locked feeling? Writers

block, I told him. Very common. No cure.He was relieved to hear that it wasn'tnecessarily fatal. "Forget writing," I saidone day. "Just type." So he did. Shortlyafter that his fingers flew. He's atenacious person, so once he put hismind to this writing business he gotpretty good at it.

Using nearly 30 years' worth of notesand journals, Carter typed day and night,it seemed, for two winters. When Iprinted out the results in January 2010his manuscript totaled more than 1,000double-sided pages. I panicked. I wantedto help him, but how would I begin topare this down? To Carter, every storywas a pearl and none could possibly beomitted, not even the twenty-two aboutgrizzly bears and the one about aconstipated porcupine.

I realized one day as I fought off thenotion that I was, by default, about to

become a book editor, that I was theonly one who could help put this thingtogether. I'd heard almost every one ofCarter's stories at least five times. Nowhere they were on paper. It was likerealizing I was the only one with thecombination to the safe. I was the onlyone who knew which stories were themost important to Carter, where theturning points were, what made himtick, and why he continues to stayinvolved in all this wolf stuff. This wasn'tjust a bunch of hearkening back to thegood old days, like some washed-up fieldgeneral. This was important stuff. It washistoric. I'd discovered, upon seeing it inblack and white, that I was married to a

legacy. I had to help him. If onlyhe would stop asking, "How's itgoing?" every twenty minutes.

I spent a year reading and sortingand trying to line out a narrative.I bought a laptop so I didn't haveto interrupt Carter at hiskeyboard, and did all the work atour dining room table - a goodportion of it while he was awaytrapping for the summer. Thestory seemed to write itself. All Idid was keep its nose pointedinto the wind. It seemed naturalto begin and end the memoirwith a certain wolf pack, calledthe Whitehawks. It seemednatural to tell thingschronologically. So I let the storygo that way. We ended up with agem, according to readers and

reviewers. Wolfer even won two bookawards in 2011.

Although several influential people triedto talk us out of using the photo on thecover, we did it anyway. Too gross, theysaid. Too shocking. Too graphic. Make itsmaller. Use the photo on the back coverinstead. Our graphic designer knew we'ddug our heels in, however, and shestepped in, making changes that werebasically subliminal. She changed thecover from almost black to almost white,which seemed to evoke redemption. Ithought the combination worked well.Every question that comes to mind whenyou look at that photograph summarizeswhat Carter did for a living for so manyyears. It wouldn't have been fair to thereader to make it seem pleasant. Youlearn about Carter beginning with thecover of his book and only when you'vefinished do you really get it.

So many of the people in Wolfer - andthe wolves, too - seemed to have beencreated because someday someonewould write about them. Carter didn'thave an epiphany that made him want towrite about his experiences, he justthought he should. Lots of people havethis idea, I suppose. The difference withWolfer, as one reader put it, is thatCarter is the real deal.

Jenny Niemeyer is the editor ofBottleFly Press, publisher of Wolfer.

“When Carter begangathering material for hismemoir, Wolfer, it wasn'tpretty.”

Jenny Niemeyer, pictured herewith her husband, Carter, spent ayear editing the award-winningmemoir.

28 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

Wolf Gifts and Trust Souvenirs

Plush Wolf Hat £8.50Join the pack with this cosy plush hat from WildRepublic! Suitable for a child’s or small adult’shead.

3D BookmarksWolf in Snow £2.99Wolf Pack £1.2515cm x 6cm excluding tassel.

Large Arctic Wolves Dreamcatcher £6.00A stylish dreamcatcher featuring two Arcticwolves. The outer ring is covered in beigesuedette, decorated with two pieces of faux furand has suedette thongs adorned with beads andreal feathers. 33cm diameter.

Wolf JugSmall £7.50Large £9.00Ceramic jug from QuailPottery where theliquid pours outthrough thewolf’s mouth.The large jug is14cm high x 19cmlong and holds approx300ml/½pint. The smalljug is 12.5cm high x 16cmlong and holds approx150ml/¼ pint.

White Arctic Wolf Hoodie£29.99 - UKWCT Exclusive

If our last two winters areanything to go by, you’ll beneeding this cosy hoodie!This UKWCT design withfront double pocket ismade from an 80% cotton,20% polyester mix and ismachine washable at 40°C.Sizes: S – 36”, M – 40”,L – 44”, XL – 48”, XXL – 52”.

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 29

Pack of six greetings cards £6.00Gloss finish cards featuring Massak, Pukak and Sikko, the Arctic wolves, and Tala, Tundra and Nuka, the Beenham Pack.Blank inside for your own message. Size 13.5cm x 11.5cm. Supplied with envelopes.

Pack of five ‘Torak’ Christmas cards £3.50Greeting: A very Merry Christmas and a Happy NewYear. Size: 17.8cm x 12.7. Supplied with envelopes.

Wolf Slippers £11.99Designed and produced exclusively for theTrust by Monster Slippers with a hard-wearing, non-slip sole. Washable at 30°C.Available in children’s and adult’s sizes:XS: shoe size 10 – 1S: shoe size 1½ – 4M: shoe size 4½ – 7L: shoe size 8 – 11

Arctic Wolves Clock£8.99

29.5cm diameter,Printed MDF clockfeaturing moonlitArctic wolves.Includes slot forwall-hanging.Supplied in ashrink-wrapped

card tray.Requires

1 x AA battery(not included).

Wolf Spirit ShieldTravel Mug£9.99Eco-friendly mug to keep your drink hot or coolon your journey. Stainless steel lining and rim.The push-on lid has an easy-to-open and closedrink hole.The Wolf Spirit Shield design is encased in aprotective acrylic wrap.Handwash in warm, soapy water. Not suitablefor microwave or dishwasher.

Size: 17.5cm high.Holds 350ml/12floz approx.

30 UKWCT WOLF PRINT

Wolf Gifts and Trust Souvenirs

To view and order theseand our other stationery,clothing, gifts andsouvenirs, visit our onlineshop at www.ukwolf.orgor call 0118 971 3330.

Please note: all UK ordersare subject to a minimumP&P charge of £4.50.For overseas orders,please contact us.

Playing Cards in TinBark at the Moon

(pictured left) £6.50Wolf Spirit Shield(right) £6.50

From Tree-FreeDesigns, eachcontains 54 cards

with a UV coatingto the face. The cards

are 50% recycled cardstock, 15% post-consumer

waste and printed with soy-based inks. The tins aremade from recycled steel, size approx. 10cm x 7cm, weight

approx

MagnetsWolf Paw £3.50Wolf Spirit Shield £3.509cm x 6.5cm.

Ceramic Tile Top Box£7.99Handy wooden box forjewellery, trinkets or coins.

The hinged lid is inset with a10cm square ceramic tilefeaturing Arctic wolvesand the box has aprotective coating ofmatt varnish and is linedwith black velour.Size: 12cm square x

5cm high.

Mounted Ceramic Tile£3.55

This wood-backed tile makes agreat ornamentfor your desk or

mantelpiece. Thescrew-in post

supplied enablesit to be free-

standing.10cm square.

3D Wolf in SnowKeyring£3.49The fob features astunning back-to-back 3D picture of awolf in snow and isattached with arevolving link to asturdy keyring.Fob size 7cm x 3cm.

Wolf’s Head Egg Cup £4.50Enjoy your breakfast egg from this unusual eggcup from Quail Pottery. From the same rangeas the jugs on the previous page.9cm high x 9.5cm length.

ISSUE 44 AUTUMN WINTER 2011/12 X

Forthcoming events at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust

Further details at www.ukwolf.org or to book call 0118 971 3330

Wolf Walk and Talkwith Jim and Jamie Dutcher – 28th January 2012 at 1pmThe Dutchers are internationally recognised experts on wolves and are visiting the UK WolfConservation Trust for the first time. As documentary filmmakers for National Geographic andDiscovery, they lived in a tented camp among a wolf pack for six years in the Sawtooth wilderness ofIdaho, America, filming wolves and observing intimate pack behaviour never before seen. To this day,they are the only human beings to have shared this unparalleled and lengthy experience with wolves; elusive animals who avoid humancontact whenever possible and are rarely observed, even at a distance. Jim's cinematography and Jamie's sound recordings produce anintimate portrait of highly intelligent animals: caring, playful and, above all, devoted to family. www.livingwithwolves.org

Walk and talk: £70 per person. Talk only: £25 per person. Booking essential at www.ukwolf.org or telephone 0118 971 3330

Join us for an exciting and fast-moving workshop developed inassociation with Wolf Park of Indiana when as well as walking withwolves, you will also:

• examine the genetic evidence of the relationship between dogsand wolves

• look at domestication vs socialisation•  learn about the taxonomy of canids•  receive a gift as a memento of the day

This hands-on workshop will chart the domestication of dogs fromtheir wild roots to the present day... and much more besides.

Predator to Pet WorkshopSaturday 15th October at 10am

£50 per person.Places limited – booking essential

A walk with ambassador wolves is included, allowing you to see first-hand the wild ancestor of today's dogs.

Photography DaysSunday 22nd January and Saturday 4th February10am – 4pmYour first opportunity to photograph all 12 of theTrust's wolves, including our amazing Arctic trio.

Held in the winter when the wolves are at theirmost charismatic our photography workshopstarts with a brief presentation setting the sceneand giving you some background information of the wolves and thecentre. You will then have time to photograph the wolves either in theirenclosures or out on a walk.

Open to photographers of all abilities and standards of equipment.Participants must be 18 years or older. Full details on the website.

Spaces are limited – so book early. £100 per person

Why not give a photographic day voucher for Christmas?

FridayNightis

Night!

21st October, 18th November, 13th January,10th February & 9th March at 6.30pm

Cost £10 per person - Booking required

If you've ever dreamed of standing near awolf and hearing it howl, this is a once in

a lifetime opportunity to feel yourbackbone tingle and your ears vibratewith the sound. The evening will startwith a presentation on wolf

communication; you will then go ona tour of the centre and have the

opportunity to let out a howland see if the wolves respond!

You will also see themfeeding.

Night is the best timeto see the wolves

as they are at their most active.

(Don't forget to dress up warmly for an evening under the stars).

Valentine WalksWhat could be a more romantice gift for an animal lover than to walkwith wolves? Spend your special day at the UK Wolf ConservationTrust in the company of one of the most family-oriented species. It’sbreeding season for the wolves as well and they are very loyal andattentive to their mates at this special time of year for lovers.£75 for two people. Comes with a gift and a year’s membership tothe Trust. Booking essential.

Sunday, 12th February at 10am and 2pmChildren’s events at the Trust

26th October, 11am – 1pm

Take a walk with a UKWCT wolf. This event includes a short talkand a tour of the centre. £13.00 per person,6 years +. Booking essential. Limited parent spaces.

Come and help us celebrate Howl’oween. Walk with thewolves and listen to them howl. Carve and stuff pumpkinsfilled with the wolves’ favourite treats. Watch the wolvesenjoy working out how to get the treats out of the pumpkins– they love it! £15.00 per person, 6 years+. Booking essential.

27th October, 11am – 1pm

22nd December, 10.00am – 12noon

Take a walk with a UKWCT wolf. This event includes a short talkand a tour of the centre. £13.00 per person,6 years +. Booking essential. Limited parent spaces.

Come and help the wolves have a great Christmas bydecorating a Christmas tree for each pack. Makeedible decorations which you will then hang ontheir special trees. See how long it takes them to unwrap andeat their presents! The event also includes a walk withwolves. £15.00 per person, 6 years+. Booking essential.

Thursday 22nd December, 1pm – 3pm

Wolf Awareness WeekSATURDAY 15th: Predator-to-Pet Workshop (see page 31)

SUNDAY 16th:The Annual UKWCT Seminar

– £50 per personThis is the second year that the Annual Wolf Trust Seminarhas been held during Wolf Awareness Week. This yearspeakers include renowned wolf experts Carter Neimeyer,Vladimir Bologov, Gary Marvin, Troy Bennett andClaudio Sillero. 11am – 4.30pm.Advance booking only. Full details available online.

MONDAY 17th:STUDENT SEMINAR – £20 per delegateThis is the first ever seminar to be held at the UK Wolf

Conservation Trust especially for college and universitystudents. Speakers include Carter Niemeyer, VladimirBologov, Pete Haswell, Gary Marvin and Troy Bennett.11am – 4pm. Advance booking only. Full detailsonline.Delegates will be required to show their Student IDcards.

WEDNESDAY 19th:SCHOOLS DAY – £3 per pupil.

Accompanying teachers free.See the wolves and speak to the handlers.

11am – 3pm.Schools must book in advance.

Activity pack also available to do on site or back in the class (£15).Caroline Gregson (see below) will be creating our new Willow Wolf.

THURSDAY 20th:OPEN DAY – 11am to 5pm

Admission: £5 non-members; £4.00 members, seniorcitizens and children up to 12 years of age; children under

three – free. Booking not required.

JANE ABSOLOM PASTEL WORKSHOP– £25 per person

Run by well-known wildlife artist Jane Pascoe-Absolom this workshop will run from 10.30am to 4.00pmand those involved will receive expert tuition and guidance from Jane throughout the day. This year the

star of the workshop will be Nuka whose photo you will be drawing. Nuka is our male cub born this year atthe Trust to Mai and Motomo. The cost does not include art materials which you need to bring with you; an

equipment list will be provided. Hot and cold drinks will be provided but you will need to bring a packedlunch with you. Advance booking is essential.

CAROLINE GREGSON WILLOW SCULPTURE WORKSHOP– £60 per person (maximum 6 people)

A day workshop on Thursday 20th suitable for complete beginners and those with some experience of willowweaving. Caroline will show you the methods she uses in all her willow animal sculptures and will help you makeyour own bird sculpture to take away. Previous workshops have produced herons, pheasants, hens and all manner ofducks and geese. Feel free to be creative with your ideas. You can have a look at some of Caroline's work on herwebsite www.carolinegregson.com. Caroline created the UKWCT's willow wolf during Wolf Awareness Week lastyear and will be creating a second member to the willow pack this year. Booking required.

FRIDAY 21st: Howl Night – £10 per person (see page 31)

Picture: Torak by Tristan Findley

15th - 21st October 2011 Booking: www.ukwolf.org