UK Wolf Conservation Trust

The UK Wolf Conservation Trust is a non-profit organisation based in Berkshire, England. Its aims are to dispel the myths and misconceptions surrounding wolves, and to support wolves living in the wild elsewhere in Europe. It is currently home to ten wolves: Nuka, Tala, Tundra, Mai, Motomo, Mosi, Torak, Massak, Pukak and Sikko.

UK Wolf Conservation Trust
FoundedMay 1995 (1995-May)
FounderRoger Palmer[1]
TypeNon-profit
FocusConservation
Location
Area served
Europe
MethodEducation, supporting conservation projects
WebsiteUkwct.org.uk

History

Businessman Roger Palmer visited Alaska in the 1970s where he encountered wolves for the first time. Upon his return to the UK he decided to acquire a wolf. Palmer kept wolves into the mid 1990s[2] and, encouraged by ethologist Erich Klinghammer, founded the UK Wolf Conservation Trust (UKWCT) in 1995.[3]

Activities of the UKWCT

The UKWCT has 10 ambassador wolves, 9 of which are socialised wolves split into four packs.[4] The wolves are taken for walks most weekends in the open farmland around the Trust,[5] accompanied by members of the public and UKWCT. The idea is to allow people to see wolves in a different light to the experience seen at most zoos, which generally don't socialise their animals.

Education is a major part of the UKWCT's ethos and they hold regular seminars, with biologists and other speakers giving talks about wolves and current conservation work. The UKWCT's magazine,[6] WolfPrint, attracts contributions from those involved with wolf conservation and reports on current events in the wolf world.

Achievements

In 1998, the UKWCT imported three European wolves from eastern Europe and in 1999 they gave birth to six pups. This was reported[7] to be the first birth of European wolves in the UK since they were driven to extinction in the 18th century. After their relocation to Wildwood in Kent, the imported wolves had several further litters.

The UKWCT proudly look after the UK's first ever Arctic wolves - Massak, Pukak and Sikko. They were imported from Quebec in Canada in March 2011 when a fierce snowstorm destroyed their mother's den, causing her to reject the newborn cubs. The UKWCT were then invited to take these cubs back to the UK, where they have lived ever since.

Projects supported by the UKWCT include helping to buy livestock guardian dogs for Bulgarian shepherds, as well as supporting wolf research and education in the Tver region of Russia and also in Croatia. Support has also been provided for the Ethiopian wolf, for other European projects, and for the Red and Mexican wolves in the Americas. To date, the Trust has donated over £150,000 to wolf conservation projects worldwide.[8]

References
  1. "UKWCT website - about us section". Ukwct.org.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. "Environment". Telegraph.co.uk. 30 March 2016.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2011-05-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Wolves - UK Wolf Conservation Trust". Ukwct.org.uk.
  5. "Hikers go for walk with wolves". News.bbc.co.uk. 22 August 2018.
  6. "Wolf Magazines and Newsletters". Searchingwolf.com.
  7. "BBC News - UK - Wolf cubs born in Britain". News.bbc.co.uk.
  8. "The UK Wolf Conservation Trust". Ukwct.org.uk.
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