Keep fingers crossed for rescued wolf

The most important news story last week on the wolf theme was about a wolf in a very awkward situation. A wolf cub born last spring had gone to explore the manure storage facility at the Koopsi farm in Tartu County.

Estonian text 25.11.2019. Posted by the Animal of the Year Team.

 

The manure odours were irresistible to the curiosity of a daring young wolf. The situation took an unexpected turn when the wolf noticed a farm worker approaching and was so frightened that he fell into the manure slurry. The event would maybe have been ridiculous if the poor wolf had not been near drowning. The manure was very cold, the storage pool edges slippery and the animal did not manage to get out by itself

Fortunately there are those who are willing to lend a helping hand to wolves in Estonia - after a rescue operation of almost three hours the half-frozen animal who had been eye-to-eye with death could be brought ashore. The representative of our national animal was then washed, blow-dried and provided with a GPS collar. Finally the wolf, still groggy from a sedative, was released back into nature .

The video shows that getting away from the humans was a great relief for the wolf. Bathing  in the manure was not after all the only mishap for the wolf in this bleak day. The long and frightening contact with its greatest enemy - man - was traumatic. While we know that all was done in the interest of the animal and see the capture-transport-washing-drying as a sort of spa session, with only massage and a facial mask missing,  for the wolf such manhandling in his helpless state was an indescribably traumatic happening. Evidently he will need some more time to recover.

Interesting how the remaining wolf pack will accept its fluffy-blown and strangely-smelling pack member? With wolves in zoos it has been noted that a wolf who has been absent for a while (e g in a veterinary clinic) and smells strangely may be very harshly received by the pack. In nature however the relations between the wolves in a pack are more friendly than in a zoo. Let us hope that our hero will be received with warm greetings and indulgent interest.

It may be assumed that  this wolf will  have no more problems with giving in too light-heartedly to curiosity in the future, Manure smells will probably cause shivers of fright to run along his back. One thing is evident  – for this wolf fear of humans will remain for its  lifetime.

 

Laura Kiiroja

Sildid