Massak: Warrior Born Of Winter

I finally received my package for Massak, the Arctic wolf I adopted from the UKWCT. When I discovered the UK Wolf Conservation Trust I instantly knew I wanted to support their efforts, having always wanted to protect wolves in some way, but neverwith the outlet to do this. I felt it was an important life event to shed any effort possible to educate and save these fine creatures, as they are as much a part of myself as the earth. The package came with an elegant photograph of his wolven mane, and an certificate of adoption, as well as a vial of wolf fur, which I am planning to make into a special earthy pendant, and a zine called Wolf Print, which tells of their projectsdone by the UKWCT, like those is Russia, Nepal, Ethiopia, Greece & Croatia, info on the packs who live at their London park, and wolf biology around the globe. Also was enclosed a ticket to see the wolf personally on an open day and take photos with it. The wolves at their site are also taking on countryside walks in the Britsh nature. This also allows to them to grow used to their land, bathe themselves in streams, and run in the fields. and explore their wild instincts. I had made a post previously with a couple photos of him, and m/y mate also recently adopted one of his siblings called Sikko, but here is some words on Massak:

Massak is now entering his 2nd year, born in a snow storm in 2011 with his siblings, Sikko and Pukak. They were hypothermic and would not have survived if it had not been for the quick intervention and expertise of the team from Parc Safari. The trio were showing very little signs of life when found. They were hand reared and once recovered, they needed to be found a home so it was agreed the three young wolves would make the trip to the UK from Canada once they were 10 weeks old and come the only Arctic wolves ever in Britain. Massak is getting used to the sights and smells of the English countryside. He is able to hunt birds and small mammals while allows him to carry out natural behaviours. In the wild, the Arctic wolf has no natural predators and little competition for food. For the next year Massak should keep his coatof white, grey and tan. Massak is slowly starting to understand the enrichment activities he is offered, with stuffed hessian sacks slowly becoming a favorite. He enjoys playing, but only on his own terms. Massak is an independent and intelligent wolf who knows his own mind. If he’s in the mood to join then he will, if not he will lie quietly in his chosen spot, relaxin in his enclosure usually under the shelter of the trees or resting under one of the platforms. Massak is part of the next generation of ambassador wolves, and is involved in behavioural research.

My lupine nature spoke to me in a certain frequency when I was decided which wolf to support. Massak’s own nature of being an independent and relatively reclusive wolf mirrors the traits that I also nourish, (to mention in his photo he also looks like a tibetan monk). He is one of the ambassador wolves, used for teaching, and he enjoys the increasing focus. As with my art and my writings, I feel intrinsically linked to this ambassador nature, and the need to impart knowledge as does Massak.

Here are some pieces of wolven biology that I wish to share as well that and some that were written with the package, some of which I never knew before…
The common coloration of the Grey wolf is actually not grey at all but a mixture of black, brown and white hairs. The wolf is the immediate ancestor to all breeds of domestic dog, they share 98% of the same genes and through 10,000 years or so have become what we know canis to be now as a domestic pet. By smells produced through secretion’s in the wolf’s skin, and urine, wolves can tell the gender, breeding condition, social status, age, condition and diet of each other. Each scent gland plays a different role in the body. Body language is almost predominantly dominant or submissive in the packs. In active submission the subordinate wolf will excitedly lick, hold, and smell the mouth of the dominant wolf (something quite kinky about this).
Besides howling, yelping, and growling wolves also display a variety of auditory communication that represent different emotion or traits; barking, squealing, humming, whimpering, moaning and snarling, most of these are for distress, pain or hunger. Their howls also can be diverse and different frequencies or patterns of howls can decide if they are predatory, protective, solitary, recognizing location, and pack calls. Wolves adapt their coat color to the terrain they live in, as is seen with Ethipian red wolves who live in desicate sandy areas, brownish grey wolves residing in dense forestation, and white arctic wolves in the high north. They also seem to entertain a sort of energy transfer, with tactile communication, play, fighting and grooming. I recently learned that about 10,000 years ago, when human beings started to discover their predator status, it coincided with the wolf domestication. The primitive traits of hunter/gathering from their wolven counterparts helped man to learn basic survival skills, as he mimicked their behavior. They were kept captive for wild hunts, and used for their heightened senses to locate other prey.