MUZZLE TO MUZZLE V

Sunday 19th March 2000, and once again it was down to Beenham Primary School for a rather hastily organized seminar with someone called Suzanne Laverty from the "Defenders of Wildlife" organization based in the United States. The seminar was quite good, with Suzanne trying to teach us all how to howl. Apparently the secret is not just to howl, but to say something with your howl. Needless to say a hall full of a hundred or so people howling together is quite impressive! She also told the group about her history with the wolves around Yellowstone and Montana, and it was like something out of "The Loop". There was also an extensive slide show about wolf reintroduction.

After a buffet lunch, it was time to visit the UKWCT wolves. At this time of year they were still in their winter coats, so they were all big, fluffy, and extremely adorable. It was to be extra special since we took the female timberwolves (Kenai, Duma, and Dakota) into the local woods, where they went paddling in the lake there. (Well, the wolves took themselves there, since the handlers are pretty much dragged wherever the wolves wish to go!) The wolves enjoyed it immensely, and were more than reluctant to return at the end of the walk. (Apparently when you try to carry a wolf, they sprout additional legs...)

Then later in the afternoon we took the European cubs (who are pretty much full grown now, almost yearlings at this point) for a walk in the field near the UKWCT centre. There seemed to be some kind of student film crew there, though the only thing they seemed to do was prove the point that wolves will not pose for cameras.

After the day was over, there was a brief opportunity to visit Kodiak in his enclosure. He's not allowed to meet with the public any more since he is very much top-dog at the moment, and will try to dominate anyone he comes across. When we were watching him with Alba in the enclosure, we saw the perfect example of this kind of dominance in action.

Kodiak was getting scritches through the enclosure mesh from one of the handlers, while Alba was getting attention from a child on the other side of the enclosure. Kody noticed this, and made a very low, subtle growl and started to walk over to where Alba and the kid were. Alba immediately got up and walked to another part of the enclosure, and pretended to take interest in a scrap of meat. The kid, very sensibly, removed his hand from the mesh before Kody got anywhere near them. This done, Kody then returned to being scritched by one of the handlers.

What will prove "interesting" is when Alba feels confident enough to challenge Kodiak for Alpha position. If Kody does become dominated then he'll go straight to Omega status, but he's got no means to escape Alba because they're in an enclosure so their health will be at risk. Secondly, since Kody will drop in position will he become more docile or will he still see himself above humans? And since Kody is above humans in the pecking order, and Alba becomes dominant over Kody, will Alba be less tolerant of humans too?

While the importance of keeping wolves in captivity and using them as "ambassadors" is clear to me, what is also clear is the problems and social dysfunction wolves have to face in captivity, especially ones that are socialized to interact with humans. So while I still support what the UKWCT is trying to do, I have moral questions about the way they're trying to do it.

Still, I'm glad of the opportunity to spend such time with wolves, and it was yet another precious moment for me.

	Walking with the wolves in the woods.
	A very happy wolf in her element.
	Gone Fishin'
	A tired wolf takes a rest.
	Kodiak showing who's boss.