European Wolves

[Ngala]

Wolf from Finland. July 2012.

Photo and information credits: Jayanth Sharma
Once widespread across the landscapes of Europe and Asia, the Eurasian Wolf was thriving until the 18th century. Largely perceived as a threat to livestock, children and pets, Wolves were hunted systematically over the centuries. 
Finland is a landscape with over 60% of forests with over 60,000 Lakes and has always been a country obsessed with hunting.
Today less than 200 Wolves seem to be living in Finland and most of them are bordering Russia who seem to transit between the two countries and in areas like the "No Mans Land".
While I was sure of the Brown Bear encounters here in Europe, I was desperate to come across the elusive / skittish and ghostly Wolf! In the earlier part of my trip, I concentrated on Bears and cubs which I got in plenty, but in the latter part of the expedition, I travelled closer to the Russian border in the No Mans Land and spent a few days looking for Wolves here. Finally on the last night in the No Mans Land at around 11 in the night, I saw a distant blur appear on the end of the forest and this photograph was taken before the Wolf came as close as 75 meters from where I was hiding! 

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply