Important! Captive Wolves vs. Wild Wolves

At the Wolf Science Center, all wolves are hand-raised and intensively socialized with humans from an early age. As a result, they behave in a much more approachable and open manner toward humans than their wild relatives, who exhibit pronounced shyness and caution. This wariness toward humans is vital for a wild wolf’s survival and—alongside herd protection—forms the foundation for a long-term, functional coexistence between humans and wolves.

Our way of working and our interactions with wolves should by no means serve as inspiration for your next walk in the woods! For all wild animals, and wolves in particular, the best thing we can do is to leave them alone.

It may sound harsh, but unfortunately it's true: Attracting or even feeding wild (young) wolves is essentially a death sentence! Why? Because feeding teaches them—despite their innate wariness—that seeking proximity to humans, or at least not fleeing from them, might be worthwhile.

The problem is that such wolves can, in rare cases, actually become dangerous and pose a risk to people. The reason lies in their inner conflict between natural fear and learned attraction (food). The sad consequence: they are shot.

So, if you love wolves, please leave the wild relatives of Meeko, Aiyana, and Co. in peace!
Here in Ernstbrunn—or in other zoos and parks—there are plenty of opportunities to observe or even get to know wolves in a relaxed setting.
There are also many exciting monitoring reports and TV documentaries about wild wolves.

If you have any questions or if you have spotted wolves in the wild, please contact the Austrian Bear-Wolf-Lynx Centre directly: https://baer-wolf-luchs.at/