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Visiting The Sanctuary - Day Visits held Sunday afternoons between 1400-1630 (an hour earlier in winter months)
Access to our wolf sanctuary is strictly controlled since we are a private membership group and not open to the public. Individuals who wish to visit the Centre have to be current members with valid Visitor Passes, then a mutually agreed day for a visit can be arranged. You can apply for membership by using the ‘Join Now’ link here or in the links above.
Ironically it is the very fact that Kgosi and Madadh are socialised to people and more than a little enthusiastic to meet them, that we do not take visitors into their enclosure. This would be distressing for the visitors themselves, since the wolves would be inclined to be very forward and boisterous. The confidence of being with their sibling and the handlers - that is us, which amounts to their pack! - as well as in their own territory, would mean they could be jumping and interacting around people with little inhibition.
Though no doubt some of our visitors might enjoy being roughed up by an excited wolf, as do we the handlers, many might find this distressing and until you are close you won't appreciate how much bigger and stronger they are than any dog. Though relatively gentle with us humans, we would not risk any possible problems or distress on either side.
So if the wolves are willing, meeting Kgosi or Madadh only occurs during the relative control afforded when we bring them outside on a lead. Firstly, this will take place over a 5 foot bar gate with the wolf and handler on one side and the visitors on the other just to ensure either party are still happy. If this appears okay we can then move the gate aside and arrange the visitors in the courtyard so that Madadh or Kgosi can approach them one at a time at their own discretion. The visitors remain still!
As socialised wolves Madadh and her brother Kgosi - are not afraid to approach visitors directly, unlike Nouska who will tend to stand off. This means we introduce them differently because of their greater confidence. We bring them outside of their own enclosure, one at a time to meet people. To bring them outside we need to keep them on a sufficiently robust lead to ensure their safety and those of visitors, should anything distract them unexpectedly. They’ve been accustomed to leads since young cubs and can be guided quite loosely as you can see. We also utilise biscuits amongst the visitors as a useful distraction if required. Because of conditioning when they were young, they will often sit if asked expecting a biscuit reward! The wolves seem to enjoy meeting new people and it helps to enrich their environment and break routines, keeping them more alert and happy. As a social, highly intelligent, pack animal this seems to make sense. None of this would be possible or entertained by us, if the wolves themselves were not so keen to meet people and were not such excellent wolf ambassadors.
Often it is Madadh who meets new people since as a smaller, more timid wolf compared to her bigger brother she is gentler with visitors and easier to handle. They will tend to excitedly wrestle one another at the gate in anticipation, which makes it trickier to select one with the lead and bring them out. We have to be mindful of other things besides the visitors themselves, as once outside their own territory the wolves can be spooked or distracted by unfamiliar objects and smells. Visitor cars, scents left by other animals and it’s not uncommon for RAF jets to suddenly appear low overhead, though this usually just provokes howling!
With Nouska (and also before we lost them - Luna and Saskia for example), a small group of visitors can be easily taken into their enclosure as part of a tour. Because they are not socialised wolves they will tend to stand off from people, although they are confident enough to come relatively close. Often, we can arrange that the wolves are fed in an area where visitors can sit nearby and obtain an opportune photo.
We have never had a problem but we prefer to be cautious so that hopefully we never will. The kinds of wolf interaction visitors have had over the years are entirely subject to the wolves themselves and naturally vary according to the characters of the animals we happen to be caring for. A visitors experience is dictated by the wolves requirements not the other way around.
Visiting The Sanctuary - Night Visits
We have also recently pioneered an additional visiting experience at the Wolf Centre, which compliments our previously day-time only activities. Our ‘Night Time’ visits give the opportunity for members to appreciate the full range of the wolf experience, by providing a glimpse into their nocturnal life. To find out more about our ‘Night Time Visits’ please use the link highlighted here.
Visiting The Sanctuary - Other Visits
We also accept visitors from approved conservation organisations on pre-arranged days (fees and conditions apply for the different groups).
We also run special photography days, these courses are run by our own professional photographers, who will arrange and guide people of all abilities and backgrounds who wish to capture the Wolf Centre’s residents on film. To find out more about our ‘Photography Days’ please use the link highlighted here or above in the links section.
We consider membership to our project and access to our wolves as a privilege and any contact or observation with the resident animals is entirely at their discretion. Our Wolf Centre is not a zoo and is not open to the public, it is a refuge and sanctuary for our wolves whom we and are membership are privileged to share some wonderful times.
To Adopt-a-Wolf and/or request Visitor and/or Guest Passes then click on the ‘Join Now’ link highlighted here or at the top of the page and utilise the form provided.
Important Notice: Please note that for safety reasons we are not able to introduce our socialised wolves to visitors who are under 16 years of age and/or beneath the height of 5ft minimum. This is ultimately in the visitors interests as well as our own and that of our wolves. In order to avoid disappointment we would therefore discourage visitors who potentially fall into this category.
Photography by Chris Cray. Original graphics/wording Craig Ennis.
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