looduskalender.ee

Wolf in snowfall.

 

 

More than sixty mammal species live in Estonia besides man. Our rich animal world calls for attention. So let us begin, and why not with the clever wolf, the animal who arouses many conflicting feelings. Cautious, rarely seen, secretive – information efforts are clearly called for throughout the year.

 

To explain what happens in nature to modern urbanised man, simply yet accurately, is a tough challenge. We no longer have everyday relations to field and forest life. In order to describe the ecological relationships we need appropriate examples and images.

 

The wolf is as if made for this – its role in nature is singularly thought-provoking. As other large carnivores, the wolf helps to maintain healthy populations of animals. It is not called forest sanitarian in vain.

 

The animal of the year was elected by Eesti Terioloogia Selts - Estonian Theriological Society, Looduskalender, Looduse Omnibuss, Eesti Looduskaitse Selts - Estonian Nature Conservation Society, Eestimaa Looduse Fond - Estonian Fund for Nature, Eesti Metsaselts - Estonian Forest Society, Tallinna Loomaaed - Tallinn Zoo, Eesti Loodusmuuseum - Estonian Museum of Natural History, and  journal Loodusesõber.

 

A Song of Wolves:

 

 

Laul huntidest - Song of Wolves Kalev Plink / Peep Männil,  Ajutine Valitsus Song text in Estonian HERE English translation below     Through wintery woods and frozen marshes With birches in hoarfrost cracking from cold An endless trail winds in the snow, Leads to a lie   Wolves moved in here before early light The morning sun knows nothing of them The predator family rests here A peaceful and pleasant place   Chorus: Along the bog on a meandering ridge Trots a grey predator row Going somewhere, against the wind And from where  they came bones remain   Where wasteland spreads and forests are wide here is home, his place is here Settled on the outskirts of  land, Less threatening dangers to fear   Centuries of wars were fought against wolves And poison was mixed in food He has been damned, he has been cursed Yet he persists, he is tough   Chorus: .....   Wolf howls have bred horror and fright None dared go out in the night The mind and might of wolves was feared His name must not be said   He is not from god but devil-created Spells were cast to protect herds Girls were hung for werewolves And the darkness only sheltered him.   Chorus: .....   Now forests remain, marshes remain And the war is past and the curses are withdrawn His home is the forests, for sleep, for food, For mating and young   Across wintery forests and frozen bogs With birches in hoarfrost cracking from cold An endless trail meanders in the snow Here is his home and lie   Chorus 2x