Three young wolves have moved to Basel
The Lange Erlen zoo in Basel is opening a new wolf enclosure on April 19. In future, it will be inhabited by three male wolves that were born at Langenberg Zoo.
In the wild, wolves grow up in packs. This consists of the two parents, the pups from the current year and possibly from the previous year. At the age of one to two years, the growing wolves have to leave the pack. Both females and males then set off on a migration in search of a mate and their own territory. They can cover long distances of several hundred kilometers on these migrations.
New wolf enclosure at Lange Erlen Zoo
Three males born in Zurich Wildlife Park in 2023 have left Langenberg Zoo and been transferred to Basel's Lange Erlen Zoo. The trio will live in the park's new floodplain landscape, which officially opens on April 19.
"I am delighted that we have found a new, good home for three of the seven young animals from last year," explains Karin Hindenlang Clerc, Managing Director of the Zurich Wilderness Park Foundation, to which Tierpark Langenberg belongs. For the other four cubs - all females - places in zoos or animal parks are also being sought.
Wolves in Switzerland
The wolf was extinct in Switzerland for a long time. Since 1995, wolves have been returning to Switzerland from Italy and France. Several packs have now formed in the western, southern and eastern Alps; in 2022, the wolf population in Switzerland was estimated at around 240 animals.
As a native species, the wolf plays an important role in biodiversity. Its presence has a positive effect on the ecosystem, for example by helping to regulate wild ungulates such as deer and roe deer.
Studies show that where wolves live, there is less browsing damage to trees by wild ungulates. The wolf influences not only the number but also the spatial distribution of its prey.
However, the presence of the wolf also poses a social challenge, as conflicts of interest arise around the return of the wolf. For example, as a result of attacks by wolves on livestock.
The social discourse on coexistence with wolves will be intensified in many European countries in the coming years.
The pictures were taken in 2023 and show the young wolves at Langenberg Zoo.
