LOGAN – Wolves are often looked upon as just a dangerous part of the environment. In reality, they are much more than beasts of the wild, and the Wolf Totem Ambassadors and Willow Park Zoo are teaming up to show everyone just important these animals are.
On Saturday, April 13, at 11:00 a.m., the Wolf Totem Ambassadors will be having a wolf demonstration at Willow Park Zoo for Wondrous Wildlife Saturday. The ambassadors will bring high content wolf dogs to have an interactive demonstration that teaches about wolves and why they are important.
“We are excited to have the Wolf Totem Ambassadors coming to Willow Park Zoo this Saturday to show us Damu, a wolf hybrid, and teach us about these amazing animals,” said Michelle Sagers, the Willow Park Zoo education director. “We at Willow Park Zoo believe that it is experiences like this which will inspire people to take action toward wildlife conservation.”
The conservation of wolves in the wild is important to the ecosystem. While many think that wolves devastate animal life around them, they are actually vital to keeping their ecosystem in check, said Kimmi Kraus, a Wolf Totem Ambassadors representative.
“There is a problem with how wolves are viewed. It is necessary to have wolves in the environment. It’s a problem that centers on people’s perspectives and ideologies,” Kraus said.
By teaching the public about wolves and the roles they play, Kraus hopes to change thoughts about wolves for the better. The Wolf Totem Ambassadors will be teaching about wolves themselves, their roles in the environment, and their roles in history and mythology.
Damu, a high-content wolf dog, will be interacting with those present at the event.
High-content wolf dogs have been bred from wolf dogs especially to teach about the public.
“Wild wolves should be left in the wild,” Kraus said.
High-content wolf dogs are used on the set of movies and television shows. Examples are Once Upon a Time, True Blood, and The Chronicles of Narnia. Damu, the wolf dog at the presentation, is the offspring of wolves used in The Chronicles of Narnia.
Those planning to attend Wondrous Wildlife Saturday must pay zoo admission: $2 per adult, $1 per child and children under 2 years of age are free.