A wolf in sheep's clothing

Karla Graßmann (Intern)

25.07.2023

As an intern at the WSC, you have the honor of occasionally accompanying visitors on the wolf walks with the trainers. It is exciting for the wolves to explore the area around the wildlife park, especially because a lot can be marked in the process. The wolves usually distribute their urine or faeces by what is known as "pawing". Since wolves have sweat glands on their paws, their own scent can be spread and the territory can be marked.

Before each walk, the wolves are asked if they want to go at all. The first "yes" can be determined by the fact that the wolf comes voluntarily from the enclosure into the shift. The second acceptance of the wolf can be recognized by the fact that he voluntarily slips through the collar presented to him by the trainer.

Amarok is a loyal companion because he is usually motivated to go for walks. Today we passed a sheepskin in the forest. The fur was probably disposed by a farmer. Amarok seemed very interested in the fur, because he rolled in it for at least three minutes and played with it. Maybe he wanted to make his companion Kenai jealous with the sheep's perfume? Because wolves often wallow in different things to tell their pack mates that they have found something particularly tasty. Or he wanted to cover up his own smell and disguise himself as a wolf in sheep's clothing. I don't think so, because this idiom is used for someone who tries to camouflage malicious intentions by appearing harmless. Obviously, we all know that wolves don't have any malicious intentions, they really just follow their instincts.

It was also nice to see that he has so much trust in us humans that he rolled on his back and showed himself from a very "vulnerable side" by presenting his belly.