Ever since my teenage years I've wanted to work with wolves. They
fascinate me as animals and it's always good to specialize in something when
studying biological sciences. During my first year I've started looking for
places that specialize on wolves to volunteer and gain experience with. Wolf
Watch UK opened their doors for me and it's been a great relationship ever
since.
Wolf Watch UK or WWUK is run by Tony Haighway. His mission is to
take in wolves that can't be kept in other captive facilities. Reasons for this
may be excess puppy breeding, pack disputes and wolves not suitable for
breeding. WAZA(World Association for Zoos and Aquariums) and EAZA (European
Association for Zoos and Aquariums) both see it as acceptable practice to kill
animals in zoo management (here are my thoughts on this matter). WWUK offers an
alternative to death and instead provides a beautiful habitat for the animals
to live out their lives.
Located in the heart of Shropshire, Tony has a fantastic piece of
land for the animals to roam around and interact with. As it stands, there are
six wolves on site and all of them are pretty happy. It was in Wolf Watch when
I met my first wolf love. Madadh and Kgosi are two socialized wolves that Tony
got as part of an excess litter from one of the zoos. While I was there I had
the opportunity to bond with Madadh, who just steals the hearts of anyone who
meets her. Kgosi and I maintain a healthy respect for each other but due to his
assertiveness as a male, I couldn't interact with him that much.
Nonetheless, Madadh stole my heart and we spend a good deal of time
just chilling in each other's company. She was 12 years old when I met her and
she is now 17 as of when I saw her a few weeks ago. It isn't easy seeing her
being an old lady and I can't even imagine what Tony feels. Nonetheless her
spirits were high and there were a few moments where she acted as a pup. It
broke my heart however when she saw me and tried howling. You see, wolves lose
their vocal cords as they get older, so it's hard for them to howl. One of my
favourite games with Madadh was howling back and forth, usually about who could
keep a howl going longer. I don't think I need to tell you who won that one.
Anyway, just the fact that she recognized me and tried howling made me tear up,
She was as cuddly and affectionate as I remember her being last time I saw her
and part of me felt bad for not visiting her every holiday.
There is something to be said about hanging out with wolves, even
if it's captive ones. There is a primitive feeling to running your fingers
through their fur, looking into their eyes and accepting their affection. Of
course, there is also the non-stop alertness and the full awareness that these
animals can cause some serious damage to you. But it all makes you feel
great.
Madadh and Tony have both taught me a great many things and I owe
my drive to work with wolves to both of them.
Tony has taught me persistence and humility. He doesn't let just
anyone come and volunteer at the sanctuary (for the sake of the wolves and his
own private ease of mind) so that meant that I had to take an 8 hour train ride
for just a day's interview. Never mind the fact that on that first day I found
myself waist deep in mud and made a fool of myself. I had to be persistent to
volunteer there and when I did, Tony's words were those of constant encouragement.
He knew all the wolf experts and all the players in the field, even though Tony
has never studied any sort of biology himself. He told me how hard it was to
get into the field and how I needed to be optimistic, head-strong and never
stop trying. His words still echo in my mind every time I get a rejection from
a wolf related application.
Madadh on the other hand has taught me how to be cheerful, happy
but also sneaky. It's hard being angry or upset when she is nearby. When I
first met her, I was attempting to quit smoking for the first time. As most
people know it isn't easy at all and sometimes I found myself being very upset
at the most stupid of things. A steep hill, tripping over a tree, wet ground
and many more all caused me to be upset. Not for long, though mind you. A
moment later and either Madadh would be there, smiling at me and licking my
face or I would just look at her, being a completely careless spirit and I
would just let all my troubles go. Her infinite stealing of food from her
brothers made me laugh every day but also had me on my toes as I had to devise ways
to feed both of them without Madadh catching a whiff of my plans.
For all the great things that Wolf Watch UK is, it is also facing
its own set of troubles. Technology is hard to obtain in that area and it's
hard to take advantage of some of the tools that other captive facilities use
to gain extra members and revenue. The wolves are getting older and although
they lived a happy life, there is now a need for puppies to be socialized and
be the face of Wolf Watch. But the ethics of the place stand as an obstacle to
an easy acquisition of pups (which may not necessarily be a bad thing). And
lastly, Tony is thinking ahead in time about where he wants the sanctuary to go
and who will manage it when he finally steps back and let the sanctuary
function in the hands of others. That's not to say that these issues aren't
addressed but it was just to make sure that you guys understand that it is not
easy running an animal sanctuary.
It's hard to say goodbye to a place like that. Wolf Watch UK seems
locked in an world where the real life can't get you and all you can do is just
sit there with a cup of coffee, watch the wolves play and exchange back and
forth banter with Tony. It has given me a great deal of treasured moments as
well as determination and strength to do what I want. And for that I thank Wolf
Watch UK and say farewell until we meet again.
