The Daily Beast - The Wolf Man of Wolfspark - January 30, 2013

Meet Werner Freund, 79, a former German paratrooper, who established Wolfspark Werner Freund  wolf sanctuary in 1972 and has raised more than 70 animals over the last 40 years. The wolves, acquired as cubs from zoos or animal parks, were mostly hand-reared. Spread over 25 acres, Wolfspark is currently home to 29 wolves forming six packs from European, Siberian, Canadian, Artic and Mongolian regions. Werner has to behave as the wolf alpha male of the pack to earn the other wolves respect and to be accepted.

 

REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Mongolian wolf Heiko licks the mouth of wolf researcher Werner Freund in a sign of acknowledgement.

 

REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Wolf researcher Werner Freund feeds Arctic wolves with meat with his mouth.

 

REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

An Arctic wolf howls while standing in its enclosure.

 

REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Wolf researcher Werner Freund feeds Arctic wolves with meat in an enclosure at Wolfspark Werner Freund, in Merzig in the German province of Saarland.

 

REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Wolf researcher Werner Freund poses for a portrait.

 

REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Arctic wolves stand in an enclosure.

 

REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Wolf researcher Werner Freund howls while sitting in an enclosure for Arctic wolves.

 

 

REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Arctic wolves stand in an enclosure.

 

REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Wolf researcher Werner Freund, his wife Erika and their cat Max sit in the living room of their home near Wolfspark Werner Freund, in Merzig in the German province of Saarland.