Wednesday 18 September 2013

Kissing with wolves: Incredible moment photographer is jumped by a pack of ...


  • Photographer Monty Sloan abandons taking pictures to join the cuddling

  • Unusual treatment of a human by pack in Wolf Park, Battle Ground, Indiana



By

Mia De Graaf




15:51, 16 September 2013




|


08:43, 17 September 2013



They are known as some of the wildest predators in the animal kingdom.


But you wouldn’t think it watching this video.


In a bizarre clip that is both heart-warming and strange, five grey wolves kiss and cuddle a photographer – who is happy to join the pile of love.


Scroll down for video


Warm embrace: Photographer Monty Sloan kisses a giant gray wolf as he rolls around on the floor with the pack


Warm embrace: Photographer Monty Sloan kisses a giant grey wolf as he rolls around on the floor


The pack at Indiana


The pack at Indiana’s Wolf Park abandon their predatory reputation in favour of a cuddle with the willing man


The pack starts by circling each other and wild life photographer Monty Sloan on a lake-side green at the Wolf Park in Battle Ground, Indiana.



Mr Sloan is poised to take a picture but it seems he cannot resist returning the sharp-fanged animals’ affection.


Alarmingly, in the Park’s description

of the pack, they explain that they are ‘very friendly’ to their prey –

but sources insist this was a moment of genuine affection.


‘Wolves

do not growl or snarl at their prey,’ the guide explains, ‘It would be

like a human getting angry at an ice cream cone he or she was about to

eat! Wolves who are hunting look very excited and happy, even

“friendly”.’



Intrigued: The animals circle Mr Sloan, climbing over each other. Instead of taking a photo he enjoys the moment


Intrigued: The animals circle Mr Sloan, climbing over each other. Instead of taking a photo he strokes them



Affectionate: Standing on the lake-side green, he ruffles their furry coats as they get more excitable


Affectionate: Standing on the lake-side green, he ruffles their furry coats as they get more excitable



Still snapping: Inching back, Mr Sloan tries to capture the moment at Wolf Park in Battle Ground, Indiana


Still snapping: Inching back, Mr Sloan tries to capture the moment at Wolf Park in Battle Ground, Indiana



But the group catches him as he walks round and they tumble to the floor, licking and cuddling each other


But the group catches him as he walks round and they tumble to the floor, licking and cuddling each other



And the doting photographer grapples to cling on to his long lens camera whilst cuddling the friendly grays


And the doting photographer grapples to cling on to his long lens camera whilst cuddling the friendly greys




THE DOG’S PREDATORY COUSIN


According to DNA studies, the domestic dog and the grey wolf is almost identical.


But their marginally different brain development speed is the thing that sets them apart.


Wolves

start to mature about two weeks earlier than their notoriously friendly

cousins – meaning they are quick to judge and make enemies.



Grey wolf


As a result, they are far from ideal pets.


Domestic dogs are said to originate from wolf cubs that were used as guards by humans over 40,000 years ago in southeast Asia.


Since that time wolves have been domesticated and used have been used by humans for hunting and herding.


There are around 400 modern breeds of domesticated dogs. 


But tumbling around on the floor, these animals show no sign of cunning.


They climb on each other to lick his face and nuzzle his head.


Incredibly, the fearless animal lover kisses them back.


Eventually the group roll onto the floor, where the snuggling continues.


Mr Sloan juggles the excitable hounds with his camera as he flounders underneath the doting pile.


The scenes completely contradict normal behaviour for the carnivorous breed, which feeds off mammals.


Unlike their cousins – dogs – these animals are instinctively wild, with a strict code of conduct based on hierarchy within their pack.


There is one line of rank for males and one for females.


The alpha male and female lead their packs.


Second in command is the beta male or female.


At the bottom is the omega wolf – a scapegoat.


Although there are leaders and weaklings, it is not always survival of the fittest. It is always the hungriest that gets to eat first, not necessarily the biggest.


Working together, they ensure each member has a role to play and none are neglected. 


Contrary to popular belief, wild wolves are not dangerous.


Naturally afraid of humans, they scarper in an instant, making them ‘safe’.


However, domesticated wolves and hybrid breeds are notoriously violent as they have lost their fear.







The comments below have not been moderated.



Lovely to be a part of it but I think I’d have to change my pants after that encounter!



Excalibur

,


UK, United Kingdom,

17/9/2013 19:07



That’s what you call, playing with your food.



Just My Opinion

,


moorpark, United States,

17/9/2013 15:45



“Wolves start to mature about two weeks earlier than their notoriously friendly cousins – meaning they are quick to judge and make enemies”


Wow. There are too many things wrong with this sentence! Sure – a wolve’s maturing process is different to that of a dog, but this doesn’t make them “quick to judge”… Please! And they don’t make enemies. Enemies? They eat their prey – it’s just a meal to them – they don’t harbour resentment against their prey like it’s some arch nemesis. Their timeline for maturity has nothing to do with the fact that they are predators and dogs are not. It’s neither here nor there in relation to why they are the animal that they are.



mememe

,


Dublin, Ireland,

17/9/2013 15:29



“Wolves kill by ripping out the animals intestines and eating them alive so the prey dies in agony. But keep up the wolves are sweet noble animals fiction.” – Mapdoc , Los angeles, United States, 17/9/2013 12:37


They’re carnivores. How else are they supposed to eat? They can’t wander into Tesco and buy meat that someone else has slaughtered for them. And we humans have a big fat track record for inflicting far worse cruelty on the rest of the animal kingdom, including other humans. The things some people do are horrific. I will always love wolves, they are what they are, not sure about a lot of humans of so-called ‘superior intelligence’ though.



Rosie

,


Carterton, United Kingdom,

17/9/2013 15:25



I hope I’m not reading an article months from now about how the same photographer is mauled to death.



samuelsav

,


Savannah, United States,

17/9/2013 13:58



The photographer didn’t need his telephoto lens, then.



Brat

,


Bruton,

17/9/2013 13:53



Gorgeous animals and great phtography. No way I’d have the courage to try that, but thanks for letting me watch.



Bruce

,


Grafenwoehr,

17/9/2013 13:26



What aftershave is he using?



MacDuff

,


London, United Kingdom,

17/9/2013 13:01



Wolves kill by ripping out the animals intestines and eating them alive so the prey dies in agony. But keep up the wolves are sweet noble animals fiction.



Mapdoc

,


Los angeles, United States,

17/9/2013 12:37



So envious! I love wolves.



SJA

,


Redhill,

17/9/2013 12:25




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Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/23771212




Kissing with wolves: Incredible moment photographer is jumped by a pack of ...

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