Social behaviour

Diary entry, 07.04.2010, Angelica da Silva - Vasconcellos

Pictures of the day (1 image)   

 My name is Angélica Vasconcellos and I came to the Wolf Science Center to evaluate the effect of regular training and walks on the wolves and dogs. I will be here for one year, collecting behavioural and hormonal data (saliva samples of wolves, dogs and trainers). The first steps have already started: the trainers found a way to collect saliva samples from the wolves - and they had to be really creative, since the wolves were not used to these procedures!
While the wolves were being trained to give saliva, I started observing the animals in their natural condition: in the pack, and collecting faecal samples to assess their cortisol levels. These data will be useful to compare stress levels of dominant and subordinate individuals, and also the levels of males and females.
The most challenging part in my studies so far was identifying the wolves’ faces, because the nine wolves live together! But, fortunately, for this I had a lot of help: from the trainers, students, researchers, and from Dr. Buchmayer, the wolves’ veterinarian - thank you all! After several attempts, I found my way and am feeding them every afternoon with meat with coloured dye, corn, lentils, spinach, beetroot, coal...
Our next steps will be analysing the behaviours and hormones and comparing them to find out more about our wolves’ social life!