LARGE NORWEGIAN WOLVES - BITE, FIGHT & FLIGHT

Animal Watch

26 Apr 201913:01

Summary

TLDRThis episode of Animal Watch explores the wolves of Norway, focusing on their survival, conservation efforts, and the natural beauty of their habitat. The Norwegian wolf, once hunted to near extinction, now struggles to survive with only a small population remaining. The host visits Polar Park, where wolves live peacefully, showcasing their timid and misunderstood nature. Viewers experience interactions with the wolves, learn about their behavior, and the challenges they face. The episode concludes with a glimpse into Polar Park's luxurious Wolf Lodge and efforts to protect these majestic animals.

Takeaways

🌍 Norway offers a vast and rugged wilderness, perfect for predators like wolves, with extreme seasonal contrasts between dark winters and endless summer days.
🐺 Norwegian wolves were poached to extinction in the 1960s but have slowly returned through migration from Sweden, Finland, and Russia, repopulating the southeastern corner.
🔢 Currently, around 100 wolves remain in Norway, with only 4-6 breeding pairs allowed to survive annually, as they are still culled through government-issued permits.
🚶‍♀️ The presenter visits Polar Park, located in the Arctic Circle, where a pack of Norwegian wolves live peacefully and serve as ambassadors for the species.
🐾 Wolves are portrayed as timid and gentle creatures, contrary to the historical label of 'man-eaters.' Proper behavior, like staying calm and letting wolves lick inside the mouth, helps build trust with them.
👑 The pack hierarchy is strict, with the alpha male, Braga, and alpha female, Merit, requiring respect, while lower-ranking wolves must be greeted afterward to avoid conflict.
🌲 Norwegian wolves are physically distinct, with reddish coats, and their diet primarily consists of moose, deer, and other small mammals.
⏳ Wolves in the wild typically live up to 6-10 years due to various dangers like poaching and starvation, though they can reach 20 years in captivity.
🏞 Polar Park offers visitors a unique experience, including the luxurious Wolf Lodge, where guests can stay near the wolves and under the northern lights.
🌐 Polar Park is actively working on a new predator program aimed at reducing wolf-human conflicts by collaborating with local farmers.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this episode of Animal Watch?
-The episode focuses on the wolves of Norway, their history, their struggles for survival, and their behavior in the wild.
Why did wolves go extinct in Norway in the 1960s?
-Wolves were poached and hunted to extinction in Norway in the 1960s.
How did wolves begin to repopulate Norway after their extinction?
-Wolves began to repopulate Norway through gradual migration from Finland and Russia, settling in the southeastern corner of the country.
How many wolves are currently living in Norway?
-There are approximately 100 wolves living in a shared pocket between Norway and Sweden, with only 4 to 6 breeding pairs allowed to survive.
What is the significance of Polar Park for Norwegian wolves?
-Polar Park is a sanctuary in the Arctic Circle where wolves live in peace, acting as ambassadors for the true nature of wolves, showcasing that they are timid and gentle creatures.
How do wolves greet one another, and why is it important for humans to respect this behavior?
-Wolves greet by licking inside each other’s mouths to gather information about their health and well-being. Humans should allow this to build trust with wolves.
Why are women often more readily accepted by wolves compared to men?
-Women are often more accepted by wolves because they tend to have calmer, gentler body movements, while men have heavier movements and deeper voices, which can appear more threatening to wolves.
What are the differences between Scandinavian wolves and North American timber wolves?
-Scandinavian wolves tend to have a reddish tinge to their coat, while North American timber wolves do not typically have this coloration.
What is the average lifespan of a wolf in the wild versus in captivity?
-In the wild, wolves live for around 6 years due to threats like poaching, disease, and starvation, but they can live up to 20 years in captivity.
What is Polar Park doing to support wolf conservation in Norway?
-Polar Park is working on a predator program aimed at reducing wolf-human conflict by collaborating with farmers, with the hope of improving wolf conservation in Norway.

Outlines

00:00

🐺 The Wolves of Norway: A Struggle for Survival

This paragraph introduces the Norwegian wilderness as a perfect habitat for wolves, though the species has faced challenges. Wolves in Norway were once hunted to extinction by the 1960s but have slowly been repopulating through migration from Finland and Russia. However, their numbers remain critically low, with only 100 individuals surviving in a shared area between Norway and Sweden. The government permits annual culls, leaving only a few breeding pairs. The narrative shifts to a visit to Polar Park, where wolves live in peace and are ambassadors for their species. The speaker emphasizes the wolves' gentle nature, challenging common misconceptions of them being dangerous.

05:01

🌲 Meeting the Wolves: Alpha Leaders and Pack Dynamics

The speaker introduces the wolves in Polar Park: Braga (alpha male), Marit (alpha female), and Frigg (a lower-ranking sibling). They were born in 2014, making them five years old at the time of the visit. Polar Park is one of the few places in Europe where you can observe wolves this far north. The speaker discusses Norway's limited wolf population of around 68 due to public opposition to their presence. The wolves are in full winter coat, and the speaker expresses their amazement at their beauty. After a brief howl, which rallies the wolves, the pack settles down again. The narrator shares insights about Scandinavian wolves, their size, diet, and lifespan.

10:02

🏞️ Wolf Lodge Experience: A Unique Close Encounter

The speaker describes the unique experience of staying at the exclusive Wolf Lodge in Polar Park, where visitors can live among the wolves under the northern lights. They recount the wolves' behaviors, mentioning their beautiful reddish-tinged coats. The speaker notes that wolves in the wild have shorter lifespans due to various dangers but can live up to 20 years in captivity. The segment ends with an invitation to visit the lodge, though it comes at a premium price, with luxurious amenities like a personal butler, cook, and massage therapist. The speaker expresses hope for better wolf conservation efforts in Norway, highlighting Polar Park's efforts to reduce human-wolf conflict.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Norwegian Wolf

The Norwegian Wolf refers to the population of wolves found in Norway. These wolves were nearly extinct in the 1960s due to hunting and poaching, but they have slowly started to repopulate through migration from Finland and Russia. The video highlights the challenges they face, including government-sanctioned culling and their endangered status.

💡Polar Park

Polar Park is a wildlife park in the Arctic Circle of Norway where a pack of Norwegian wolves lives in peace. The park serves as an important conservation site and offers visitors a rare opportunity to interact closely with wolves in their natural habitat. In the video, the narrator visits Polar Park and experiences wolves in a controlled, yet natural setting.

💡Wolf Culling

Wolf culling refers to the practice of systematically reducing the wolf population through government-issued hunting permits. In Norway, only a small number of breeding pairs are allowed to survive each year. This controversial practice is mentioned in the video as a major threat to the already endangered Norwegian wolf population.

💡Pack Order

Pack order, also known as social hierarchy, is a key concept in wolf behavior. In the video, the narrator mentions how wolves must be greeted in a specific order, starting with the leaders, to avoid disrupting their social structure. This hierarchy ensures that the alpha male and female, like Braga and Marit in the video, maintain their dominant roles within the group.

💡Alpha Male and Female

The alpha male and female are the leaders of the wolf pack. In the video, Braga is the alpha male, while Marit is the alpha female. These wolves are responsible for leading the pack and enforcing social order. The narrator notes the importance of acknowledging them first when interacting with the pack to maintain harmony.

💡Wolf Communication

Wolf communication involves various vocalizations and body language. In the video, howling is shown as a form of communication used by the wolves to rally the pack. Wolves also communicate through gestures, such as licking inside a person's mouth to gather information about them, a behavior the narrator experiences firsthand.

💡Human-Wolf Interaction

Human-wolf interaction, especially in the context of conservation, is explored in the video through the narrator’s visit to Polar Park. The video emphasizes that wolves are timid and gentle, contradicting their negative reputation. Visitors to Polar Park are encouraged to interact with the wolves in a calm, respectful manner to gain their trust.

💡Conservation

Conservation in the video refers to efforts to protect the endangered Norwegian wolf population. Polar Park plays a role in wolf conservation by educating the public and offering a sanctuary for wolves. The video also mentions ongoing discussions with farmers to reduce human-wolf conflicts, an important aspect of the broader conservation effort.

💡Wolf Lodge

The Wolf Lodge is a luxury accommodation at Polar Park where guests can stay surrounded by wolves in the Arctic wilderness. The lodge offers an exclusive experience for those who want to observe wolves up close. The narrator highlights this as a unique way to experience nature and wolves, though it is a high-priced offering.

💡Endangered Species

The Norwegian wolf is classified as an endangered species, meaning it is at significant risk of extinction. The video emphasizes that the current population is extremely small, with only about 100 individuals remaining, and they continue to face threats from hunting and habitat loss. Conservation efforts are crucial for their survival.

Highlights

Norway's wilderness provides a remote, rugged, and breathtaking habitat for wolves, contrasting dark winters and endless summer days.

Wolves were once extinct in Norway due to poaching, but migration from Finland and Russia helped repopulate the southeastern region.

Despite repopulation, only 100 Norwegian wolves remain, with just 4-6 breeding pairs allowed to survive due to annual government culls.

Norwegian wolves are critically endangered and heavily misunderstood, often labeled as dangerous predators, despite their timid nature.

Polar Park, located in the Arctic Circle, serves as a sanctuary for Norwegian wolves, offering a space where they can live peacefully.

When meeting wolves, calm and gentle behavior is crucial to gain their trust, with the wolves often greeting by licking the inside of the mouth.

Female wolves are more likely to accept human interactions, as male humans can appear more threatening due to their size and deeper voices.

The pack structure is strictly enforced, with wolves like Marit, the alpha female, and Braga, the alpha male, maintaining dominance.

Wolf altercations over attention can be intense but brief, highlighting the intricate social dynamics within a wolf pack.

Scandinavian wolves are slightly smaller than their North American counterparts, with males averaging 50 kg and females 30 kg.

Wolves in Europe often display a reddish tint to their fur, distinguishing them from other global wolf populations.

Their diet mainly consists of moose, deer, and smaller mammals like badgers and beavers.

Wolves in the wild usually live up to six years, but they can live up to 20 years in captivity due to safer conditions.

Polar Park offers an exclusive Wolf Lodge where visitors can stay near the wolves under the northern lights, complete with luxury accommodations.

Polar Park is working on a predator program to mitigate wolf-human conflicts and aims to improve Norwegian wolf conservation in the coming years.