Born Free and Wolves

Pictured left: Ethiopian Wolf

To complete my little walk through the lives of wolves I will end with something that is really what the book Gentle Footprints is all about- raising both an awareness and an appreciation of the special animals included. Above all we share our world with these animals and but have we really made this a nice place for them? I think if we're honest we all know the real answer to that.

Born Free used to be called Zoo Check and they are strongly opposed to animals in captivity. For this reason Gentle Footprints will not be sold at zoos or wildlife parks. Born Free have sent me some information about places we will be approaching that feel the same about the animals and who we hope will spread the word about this book!

While we might comfort ourselves that zoos state they are doing a service for the animals and are involved in protection, in almost all cases this is not what it seems with average money given to conservation by zoos is less than 5 % and less than 25% of animals in zoos are on the threatened lists. The truth is that these places make money out of exhibiting animals that should be free.

So our job is to make their habitat accessible and safe so these animals can live and be who they are supposed to be. Wildlife parks are really nothing more than more spacious zoos. There are however sanctuaries that are doing good but if you're not sure you should ask yourself if the animals are still used as exhibits and expected to perform- are they really for the good of the animal? That said there are some great places that are there for the animal- check with Born Free for advice.

Click here for more information about Born Free's ZOO CHECK

"We can learn as much about lions by studying them in their captivity as we can about men by studying them in their prison cells,"

Virginia McKenna
Born Free Founder & Trustee

Gentle Footprints has some very important messages through beautifully crafted fiction about REAL ANIMALS.

So what about Born Free and Wolves... Please click on the photo to follow the link to the Born Free website. Born Free are doing a lot of work with the Ethiopean wolves pictured.

With less than 500 individuals remaining, the Ethiopian wolf could be the next of the Earth’s large mammals to become extinct. The Ethiopian wolf is threatened by loss of habitat, hybridization with domestic dogs and the spread of lethal diseases carried by domestic dogs.

Funded and supported by Born Free, the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme team is working to study and protect the remaining populations and organises patrols to monitor the wolves, and education programmes to raise awareness to their plight. A recent outbreak of rabies was gradually overcome thanks to the tireless work of the EWCP team, vaccinating wolves and dogs.

Click on picture to be directed to Born Free website

And for more information about the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme please click on this link EWCP







The Ethiopian Wolf looks much like a British Fox

And what about other Wolf Conservation?

Depending on location, grey wolf populations vary from extinct or scarce, to relatively secure. Their legal status also varies from complete protection to efforts to exterminate the species. The IUCN¹ Red List, which lists all threatened species of animals, classes the Ethiopian wolf as ‘endangered’.

“We want to protect wild wolves and other dog species, and have to do what we can to address any problems they cause with the help of local communities.”
Dr Claudio Sillero, Born Free’s Head of Conservation.

¹International Union for Conservation of Nature


Next week: The Week Of The Bear, hosted by Dulcinea Norton- Smith who wrote about Meena The Dancing Bear...