Currently alpha female of the lower valley pack, Luna is a remarkably mature and self assured young Wolf. She demonstrated leadership qualities long before she became alpha following the sad death of the previous top Wolf, Anuke. A Canadian Timber Wolf (canis lupus), Luna was named after the mythological association with the moon, but she is also very serene and calm by nature.
Luna and her sister were the surviving pups of a pack inherited by Longleat after the Windsor Safari Park closed down. From just six hours old Luna and Saskia were hand-reared by Julia Noble of Nature Quest, a very experienced member of the wildlife centre based in the New Forest. Even so caring for two Wolves was to prove more demanding than the centre could have forseen, and thus the girls found themselves being placed with Wolf Watch UK.
The sisters first bed consisted of a plastic aquarium with a hot water bottle under a piece of vet bed. With two-hourly feeds both day and night, Julia did not get too much sleep to begin with. At five days old feeding had become extended to three–four hours during the day and every six hours at night. The furry little bundles began to quickly gain weight.
During the puppy days it was Saskia who demonstrated independent inclinations and daring acts of exploration. However, at some point during adolescence, the sisters seemed to swop certain characteristics, with Luna becoming the confident animal and Saskia rather more timid.
In fact Luna has become a bold, inquisitive and highly intelligent Wolf. Exhibiting behaviour which is mature beyond her years, such as her protective strategies concerning her sister. She would often intervene on behalf of Saskia forinstance, by physically placing herself between Saskia and the aggressor, trying to illicit play behaviour in an attempt to diffuse and confrontation – a real Wolf diplomat!
All the lower valley pack Wolves appear to enjoy playing and recent snow fall during the winter provided fun for all. Similarly, a small stream runs two thirds of the length of their enclosure and they love to spend time in the water, scraping pebbles off the bottom and have even been known to catch water voles.
The story of Luna and her sister, detailing their lives from helpless bundles of fur with amusing moments of fun and misfortune, to their early achievements and developments and on to present day adventures at the Wolf Centre, is available in back issues of our magazine Wolf Watch. But of course Luna’s story continues with Wolf Watch UK, as she explores her new world as part of the lower valley pack.
To adopt Luna click on the join now oval button on the top banner just above and utilise the form provided.
In the Wolf video section on this web site you will find unique video footage of Luna at the Centre, as well as all the other resident Wolves. You can reach this by clicking on the button link below, but you will need Quicktime player to view this and any of the other video footage on this web site. There is a link in the Wolf video page to obtain Quicktime player if you do not have it already.
