A captive female grey wolf stands on a rock in an autumnal forest, Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany
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: 3966px × 2644px
Location: Bavarian Forest, Bavaria, Germany
Photo credit: © Tim Plowden / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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