Last year, as a Christmas gift, I was bought a membership for the UK Wolf Conversation Trust, down near Reading. I had heard of this place simply through my love of wolves, and searching for any sanctuary-type place that might have wolves in the UK. This was a godsend, and when I discovered that I would have the chance to walk with them, I was ecstatic!
The UK Wolf Conversation Trust is a beautiful, private place. There, they have ten wolves, three of which are Arctic Wolves. It's nothing like a zoo, I must iterate. Each group of wolves has at least two acres of enclosure. They are respected for what they are: wild animals, and as such are treated that way. Yes, all but one were reared by the handlers and have a good relationship with their handlers - yet they are not treated as seen as pets. In my opinion, that is a wonderful thing. Wolves cannot be tamed.
We had the chance to walk with the three youngest wolves, Tala, Nuka and Tundra, as well as see the wolves being fed at the end of the day. It was a fantastic experience, as this photographs just go to show.
The Trust doesn't keep wolves as a means of entertainment. In fact, they only keep a handful of wolves as a means to educate. Everything they receive financially goes towards the wolves' upkeep, and the rest donated to other causes and projects specifically set up to help wolf conservation. They rarely have more than ten wolves, and even that is a struggle for them monetary-wise.
It's a brilliant experience though. By seeing them live, in the flesh and acting as naturally as any wolf would, it makes you understand that the fears people have about wolves are almost all misconceptions. Films like the Grey are totally inaccurate. Wolves have a natural fear of humans, and we saw that in Motomo - the only wolf not to have been reared from young. He scarcely came within ten feet of the fencing to get his food simply because we were stood there. They are graceful, family-orientated creatures, very unlike the way they are perceived. The UKWCT is an excellent learning tool - bust the myths about wolves.
This was one experience I will always remember fondly, and I would jump at the chance to do it again. I'd also push people to research this foundation and to understand that these animals are innocent. They just do what nature intended - and that ISN'T hunting humans.
