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European Wolf
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
At the moment this young wolf has a lot of space to roam free in the woods and bears to play with. The Zoo in Rhenen got this land - however they got it on loan and now the committee that lend out the wooded area to the Zoo is claiming it back. Indeed the landscape in the province of Utrecht is varied and even has hills, all reminders of the last Ice Age. But is it wisdom to want back the space so needed by the animals. If I would have a say in it I would suggest give the animals even more space.
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Most of the time you only get a glimps of the wolves from afar, but this time I felt very lucky to see this magnificant animal. Even wanted to take him home - maybe not the best of ideas....
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How is their situation in the wild:
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European wolves, like most all others, live and hunt in packs which are extended families of an alpha (the dominant male), his mate, and their offspring. They usually stay within a home range, but may wander far outside their territory to hunt. They hunt and kill game up to 10 times heavier than their own weight. Wild reindeer, elk, and red deer are their favorite prey. European wolves will also eat much smaller animals such as mice and frogs. Because of the decline in the number of wild game, they have begun to prey on domestic horses, cattle, and dogs. Starving wolves will even eat potatoes, fruits, buds, and lichen.
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The alpha male and female mate between January and March. The cubs are born seven weeks later in a den dug among bushes or rocks. The male brings food back to the den, either by carrying it whole or by swallowing and then regurgitating it for the others to eat. As the cubs grow, the mother and other members of the pack help to feed them.
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Few European countries still have substantial numbers of wolves. Wild wolves are hard to count, so exact numbers are not known. Sometimes radio-tracking is used to determine their numbers. European wolves have managed to survive only in the most remote, mountainous, or densely forested regions. Areas in which these wolves can live without coming into conflict with humans are decreasing. There is little effective international agreement about the wolf's conservation. All efforts to preserve the wolf are conducted locally.
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Because of the increasing shortage of natural prey in Italy, wolves have been forced to give up their pack-hunting habits, and scavenge for food around villages and farmhouses. Roughly, about 250 wolves live in remote mountainous areas in Italy, and are officially protected. Projects which are financed by the World Wide Fund for Nature may enable small numbers of wolves to survive if farmers and herdsman can be persuaded to accept them. Many rural villages have open dumps where the local slaughterhouse disposes of its waste. Many wolves feed there alongside feral or stray dogs. These dogs and wolves will occasionally mate, and their offspring are often impossible to distinguish from ordinary dogs.
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The wolf-dog's (Right) deceptive appearance makes it all that more dangerous. Wolf-dogs may wander freely through populated areas, unrecognized as wolves. They are wilder than their feral parents. They can be extremely ferocious, and are often infected with rabies.
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In Norway, Wolves are protected to the extent that they are illegal to kill by anyone other than farmers protecting their livestock. To prevent continuous slaughter, farmers are often compensated for livestock which is killed by the endangered wolves.
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"Grupo Lobo" was founded in Spain and Portugal in 1985 in attempt to protect the wolves in the mountains on the Spain/Portugal border. There is an extremely small number of wolves in Sweden, regardless of protective legislation. These systems are often abused. Lapp herdsman in the North of Sweden have often blamed the deaths of their reindeer on wolves rather than on poor care.
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The "wolf-plague" in Scotland resulted in the extermination of the animal there. The last British wolf died in 1743. Wolves survived in Ireland until about 1773. Similar waves of wolf persecution on the European continent has driven the few survivors into remote areas far away from human settlement.
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Although the wolf is a protected species in most European countries, some hunters see no reason to stop killing wolves for sport, and will pay a great deal of money for the privilege. Wolf survival in Europe obviously requires more than simple legislations. These wolves are rather shy and intelligent, yet they are still viewed as a ruthless predator by the mainstream.
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Thanks for reading and having a look at "my" wolf.
Els |
gunbud, portmanndominic, NellyD, AiresSantos, Merline, Royaldevon, nivaldo, Hellas has marked this note useful
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Good evening Els
good realization for this shot , POV is good ,
colours and contrast OPtimun
thanks to you
Dominic
- NellyD
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 415 W: 0 N: 431]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(1864) - [2007-11-23 2:57]
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Hoi Els,
Mijn ervaring is dat het altijd weer een uitdaging is om dieren goed op de foto te krijgen, en met veel geduld kom je een heel eind :-)
Jij hebt deze wolf echt heel goed op de foto gekregen, goeie timing ook en mooie kleuren. De takken op de achtergrond geven het een fijne natuurlijke sfeer.
(Wel jammer om te horen dat ze een stuk van de geleende grond misschien kwijtraken? wat mij betreft kunnen de dieren best meer van die grond gebruiken...)
Bedankt voor de foto!
Groetjes, Nel
Hi dear ELS,
Magnificent details in this excellent picture of the lovely European Wolf.
I like the POV, details and note
Thanka and have a nice Sunday
Aires
Hi Els, splendid portrait of beautiful wolf with wonderful pose and great sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio
Hi Hendrika,
I have to say that I am rather against zoos, even those with some "place". but this is not the place to start a hot discussion:-)
I enjoy the pic, it's clean and sharp, and well composed with that vegetation out of focus in the background. I thank you for the very interesting note, the big problem, in the end, is that human beings take all the wild space, of most of it for their own pleasure and money reasons, very often.
TFS
Have a nice evening:-)
Michèle
Hello Els,
A wonderful photograph of the quite beautiful animal! Excellent details of its colour and texture! It must have given you a real thrill to be so close!
Your notes are very important! I hope they help stir others to the plight of animals all over the world!
Kind regards,
Bev :-)
Hi Els,
Great portrait of this Wolf.Good sharp,colours and details.TFS.
Regards.
hAyAti
Hoi Els !
A very nice shot!
TFS,
Groetjes, Nivaldo
Hello Els,
Wow! This fine guy is licking his lips, a sure sign he can see food!
This is a nice profile portrait with impressive details in the fur coat...
Greetings,
Pablo -
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- gunbud
(17979)
- [2007-11-29 20:27]
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Hi Els,
Wonderful close capture of this handsome highly intelligent creature. The exposure of his soft pink tongue makes him appear quite docile, an illusion I'm sure. Wonderful detail coat and intelligent eye. Very comprehensive note about their struggle to survive in the wild.
Regards, Tom
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- edal
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1034 W: 100 N: 1606]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(5586) - [2007-12-25 0:54]
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Hello Hendrika!
Happy Christmas and thanks for this magnificent youngster portrait.
Anton
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- Hellas
(4097)
- [2008-05-27 3:02]
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Wolf's beauty befools you and want to take him home! Companionable animal!
Your capture is perfect, Els. I like very much the pleasing background blur and the fine details of the wolf. I think that if I whistle he shall turn towards me!!!!
Warm regards,
Athanasios.
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 173 W: 35 N: 148]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}