Captive Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) constantly alert and engaged with its surroundings
The Bavarian Forest National Park in Germany straddles the rugged mountainous highlands near the border with the Czech Republic. I spent my weekends observing and photographing a captive pack of wolves over a period of three months while on assignment in Munich. Studying a pack of wolves in captivity is an excellent way to get close to these remarkable predators and learn more about their hidden world by observing their behaviour. As I learned from experience in Alaska, getting close to wolves in the wild is exceptionally difficult. All wolves display a wide range of social behaviour and it’s not just about the serious business of killing and maintaining a territory – it also includes play. Wolves are known to play tag with each other and they also play games with ravens – an intelligent member of the crow family with which they have a symbiotic relationship. The goofy image of a playful wolf is far removed from the stereotype.
Size: 3810px × 2540px
Location: Bavarian Forest, Bavaria, Germany
Photo credit: © Tim Plowden / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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