Post by muskyhusky on Oct 17, 2008 1:26:22 GMT -6
*"Sno " .... The Lone Wolf of Langedrag originally came from the Koppang pack and was born in 2000.
This was proven by DNA testing in April 2002 when she was tranquilized and transported into Langedrag Nature Park.
Her father, the Alpha male, was shot in 2000 and that probably saved her life since the pack structure tends to dissolve when an alpha is missing and that is what happened in Koppang.
The pack was scheduled to be killed this year in the same way as the Atnadal pack was last year but the tracking on snow showed that there were only two wolves left in the Koppang area.
The alpha female and one of her female puppies (not a puppy any longer and probably one of *Sno's sisters) are left in the Koppang area. All the others dispersed.
At the end of 2001 she was attracted to Langedrag Nature Park. The park wanted *Sno inside. They wanted to introduce "new blood." At first they were denied.
Unsuccessful attempts were made to scare *Sno away from the park.
The local people were putting pressure on the authorities to do something. They finally decided to allow *Sno into the park.
There were organizations including Scandinavian Joint Action for Wolves and Alpha Gruppen that were opposed to this due to the fact that there are so few wild wolves left in their country and taking one of them "out of the wild" would put even more stress on the survival of the wolf.
Six wolves were killed when *Sno was allowed into the park. The owner claims this was because of health defects caused due to inbreeding.
Since her entry into the park *Sno took over the role of Alpha female and on May 9, 2002 she had a litter of four puppies.
While her life was spared; a wild animal is just that ... "wild" ... and should be free hopefully to one day find a mate and reproduce.
Thus helping to increase the dwindling wolf population.
January 30, 2003
It is with great sadness that I must tell you that " *Sno is Dead "
This is a sad day for me personally as I was one of the many people involved in the life of *"Sno", "The Lone Wolf of Langedrag" later to be renamed Vilde.
To be absolutely honest *Sno was my inspiration to become actively involved with wolf issues and their place in our world. I will miss her deeply.
It seems she escaped from the nature park and when she was captured it was decided to destroy her instead of returning her to the park.
Here are the two press releases from the newspaper Aftenposten ~
Wolf On The Run
For the second time in a week, a wolf has escaped from the Langedrag Nature Park at Nesbyen in Buskerud County.
Authorities were mounting efforts Thursday to recapture her.
The previously wild female wolf found her way to the park last year and was taken in by Langedrag officials. The wolf, since named "Vilde," has four puppies still on park grounds.
She nonetheless reportedly found a hole in Langedrag's fence and disappeared midday on Wednesday.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported Thursday that local authorities believe she's still in the vicinity. They were evaluating efforts to mount a helicopter search for her in the hopes of shooting her with tranquilizers and returning her to the park.
Last week a male wolf who had been brought to Langedrag from Sweden to sire a new litter also escaped from the park, which attracts thousands of visitors annually.
~~~~~
Runaway Wolf Destroyed
The female wolf Vilde, which escaped from the Langedrag Nature Park Wednesday, was captured and put to death by park officials and veterinarians Thursday. Vilde had four cubs at the park.
The wolf was chased into open terrain by hunters and then tranquilized from a helicopter. After the animal's capture the decision was made to put the wolf to death.
"Both we and the veterinarians made the assessment that Vilde would not settle down at Langedrag, and we therefore decided she should be put down," said Tuva Thorson at the nature park.
Vilde was originally wild, but came to Langedrag about a year ago. Despite having four cubs there, she left them behind to escape her protected existence.
Local sheriff Arve Bjerke said that police and the district veterinarian would assess security around the wolves at Langedrag, since Vilde was the second to escape in just a week. Last week a male wolf from Sweden escaped and was later shot.
~This is indeed a tragedy for Norway and the world ~
" You are free now *Sno, run as fast as the wind with others of your kind that have passed before you ~ my beloved wolf you will not be forgotten... "
WolfTracks™
actual photo of Sno courtesy of
Scandinavian Joint Action For Wolves
photo enhancement ©WolfTracks
*Sno ~ was a wolf from Norway
"Sno ~ The Lone Wolf of Langedrag"
a wolf that Donna very much came to love,
and inspired her to become involved with wolves.
This is for you Donna ~ your spirit will always be with us.
