Travel

A BEAUTIFUL GREY COMEBACK STORY

by Gunnar Ries. “Wolf.” Germany.

GREY WOLVES

The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is one of the most beautiful creatures on our planet. After all, it is the ancestor of all beautiful dogs!

by Gunnar Ries. “Wolf.” Germany.

And while this gorgeous canine is native to the wilderness and remote areas of Eurasia and North America, it was driven to extinction in Europe. Now, we have good news! Grey wolves have returned!

by Charles Higgins “Gray Wolf.”

As one of the largest predators, at the top of the food chain, humans and tigers are the only creatures that can take wolves down. Humans did the dirty deed in Europe.

by Niko Pekonen. “Northern Grey Wolf.”

Due to superstitions and in efforts to protect livestock, humans eliminated wolves from European forests during a brutal extermination campaign that began in the Middle Ages and continued through the late 1800’s.

by Vilmos Vincze. “Rufus is the toughest guy…” Hungary.

The last record of wolves living in Austria, for example, was from 1882.

by SDR3000 Photography. “Grey Wolf.” Croatia.

Recently, images of wolf families have been captured by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) camera traps in Austria and Hungary.

by MrT HK. “Bavarian Forest National Park - Wolves.” Germany.

One wolf family, recently settled in Austria’s Allentsteig military training area. Set within a 15,000 hectare forest in Austria's northeastern province, Allentsteig is protected within the EU’s Natura 2000 network of specially protected sites.

by Ralph Frank. European Grey Wolf. Courtesy of World Wildlife Fund.

It is believed that an adult wolf pair migrated from the Lusatia region in Central Europe, and settled in Allentsteig for the birth of their cubs. Wolves tend to be monogamous and mate for life.

by Sergey Gorshkov. European Grey Wolf. Courtesy of Wild Wonders of Europe & World Wildlife Fund.

New footage of grey wolves was also captured by WWF Hungary’s camera trap in Aggtelek National Park in Northern Hungary. Check out this video, which shows an entire family with 8 cubs playing in the forest.

by Staffan Widstrand. Courtesy of World Wildlife Fund.

More wolf families are expected to follow thanks to the success of the efforts to save the natural habitat of large carnivores in Austria and Hungary. WWF is working closely with the national park authorities to protect the wolves from illegal hunting and malicious killings.

by Aaron Fellmeth Photography. “Tyrol European Wolf.” Austria.

WWF camera traps support the research of large carnivores in Europe. In Hungary & Austria, they deliver invaluable information about grey wolves & other large carnivores returning to the forests. They also serve to protect grey wolves from humans who try to poison or otherwise harm them.

by Ian Glover. “Watchful Wolf Pack.” England.

Wolves are social animals, traveling in nuclear families, or packs. The average wolf pack usually is between four and six members.

y MrT HK. “Bavarian Forest National Park - Wolves.” Germany.

Beyond Hungary and Austria, grey wolf populations are on the rise in all of Europe. And the areas they populate are expanding, as they are now protected in many countries.

Courtesy of World Wildlife Fund. Wolf. Hungary.

There are now estimated to be about 13,000 grey wolves in Europe, not including Russia.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact Daily Fix posts.

by Vilmos Vincze. “Nelson, Grey Wolf…” Hungary.

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by MrT HK. “Bavarian Forest National Park - Wolves.” Germany.

IMAGE CREDITS:

Image: by Gunnar Ries. “Wolf.” Germany.
Image: by hehaden. “European Grey Wolf.” England.
Image: by Charles Higgins “Gray Wolf.”
Image: by Niko Pekonen. “Northern Grey Wolf.”
Image: by Vilmos Vincze. “Rufus is the toughest guy…” Hungary.
Image: by SDR3000 Photography. “Grey Wolf.” Croatia.
Image: by MrT HK. “Bavarian Forest National Park - Wolves.” Germany.
Image: by Ralph Frank. European Grey Wolf. Courtesy of World Wildlife Fund.
Image: by Sergey Gorshkov. European Grey Wolf. Courtesy of Wild Wonders of Europe & World Wildlife Fund.
Image: by Staffan Widstrand. Courtesy of World Wildlife Fund.
Image: by Aaron Fellmeth Photography. “Tyrol European Wolf.” Austria.
Image: by Ian Glover. “Watchful Wolf Pack.” England.
Image: by MrT HK. “Bavarian Forest National Park - Wolves.” Germany.
Image: Courtesy of World Wildlife Fund. Wolf. Hungary.
Image: by Tambako The Jaguar. “Profile of a Gray Wolf.” France.
Image: by Vilmos Vincze. “Nelson, Grey Wolf…” Hungary.
Image: by BN App - Download now!
Image: by MrT HK. “Bavarian Forest National Park - Wolves.” Germany.