The WSC moves to Ernstbrunn

News, 09.05.2009, Kurt Kotrschal

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After a great start in the Upper Austrian Herzog von Cumberland-Park in Grünau, the WSC, complete with wolves, humans and equipment, is moving to the Upper Austrian Ernstbrunn, 50km North of Vienna.

Of course we planned to develop the WSC in Grünau, at the Konrad Lorenz Research station, in the local Cumberland Game Park for good. But unfortunately, the Park management decided that it would exceed theit potentials to host a fully fledged WSC. Hence, we greatfully acknowledge a year-long prosperous collaboration. But now we are very much looking foreward to a long and mutually rewarding collaboration with the Wildpark Ernstbrunn (WPE). One of the added benefits for most (not for KK) is the closene distance to Vienna. On the down side, Grünau has missed the opportunity to host a sizable research cluster consisting of the Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle and WSC, which would have granted exceptionally high international visibility for the Grünau area.

When it became clear that we had to leave, in March 2009, time was extremely short to make new arrangements, the more as the arrival of the next 6 pups from the US/Canada was already arranged. We immediately talked to Prince Heinrich von Reuss (or he to us), owner of the castle and game park Ernstbrunn (WPE), and to his team, before all Sebastian Schmid. From the beginning on, this contact was friendly, constructive and extremely goal-orientated. We soon reached a mutually beneficial agreement. Both, the WPE and the WSC will take their share of costs and benefits and working with dogs and dog owners will be no problem. Together we will develop PR and marketing.

Also the community of Ernstbrunn, before all, the engaged major, Johann Prügl gave us a warm welcome. We therefore would want to thank our new hosts and the representatives of the "Region Leiser Berge" for this wonderful start. And before all, we would once more want to acknowledge the financial and idealistic support by our sponsors, members and last-not-least, our devoted students; without them the WSC would simply not fledge. We are confident, that hosting one of the worlds´ most promising experimental wolf project will earn the area much attention in Austria and worldwide. In 2009, there will even be an "Universum" production by Barbara Puskas and the ORF centered on our work and of course, on the WPE. 

In the course of 2009 we will have the final facilities at the WPE. Till then we may use a great area of the baroque gardens of the Ernstbrunn castle (the "Küchengarten") for keeping and for working with, the wolves and for raising the 6 pups. Also, we will have 100m2 office space, the nucleus of our WSC research station.

Incredible as it may sound: Our new hosts managed to finish the start facilities for the WSC in less than three weeks! Hence, we can move the one-year olds mid of May, the pups will come in a few days later. From end of may we will be open for visitors again - in Ernstbrunn, 50km north of Vienna.

Despite all this, neither our four wolves nor science suffered from neglect due to work overload on our side. All our routines, training and data taking runs to the last day in Grünau and will start on the second day after our move to Ernstbrunn.