Tanja Askani
I was born in Czechoslovakia and grew up in an industrial town of a Czech mining region. Love of animals was lived at home. My father taught me from the very beginning how to treat animals and how to take care of them respectfully. He always took abandoned, sick and "waste" animals back home and supported me in taking care of them until we had managed to find a new home for them
In 1990 I moved to Germany and managed to fulfill some of my smaller and bigger dreams. I began to work as falconer at "Wildpark Luneburger Heide" and meanwhile I am in charge of several packs of wolves which I hand raised by myself. Apart from my job I am a passionate photographer, write books and deliver lectures. The focus of attention to me is always the animal itself, and that we have to accept these creatures for what they are and free of moral adjudications and romantic prejudices.
2010 turned out to be a very special year for me. After years of persuasion, endless investigations and paper-warfare beyond belief, I finally brought the project "Fresh Wolf blood" to an end. In spring 2010 I flew to Canada to pick-up Naaja, the eagerly longed the eagerly longed she-wolf puppy. The 30 minutes documentary "Wolfpuppy Naaja - from Canada to Heide" does not only report on the adventurous journey to Canada but also shows Naajas further development and the integration into the pack.
Wolves are extremely shy by nature. My many years of working with hand bred wolves have shown that those can cope far better with the unnatural stress for wild animals, like contact to people in public wild parks or zoos, than shy wild animals. My animals perceive the crowd behind the fence not as a threat. To a great extent they lack the wolf- typical attitude towards men - to run away. Their attitude is rather friendly which makes it easier for the visitors to watch them. Respect and dignity towards the wolf as a fellow creature benefit from getting to know them at such close proximity and increases the public interest in wild living wolves. So my wolves became missioners for the wild living fellow- species.
To speak on behalf of the animals the advantage by far overweighs the disadvantages. The confident relationship eases the daily contact and enables me to check the state of health, discover clinical signs of illness far earlier and put me in the position to deliver a precise diagnosis ( e.g. by sweeping). When I am present my wolves can be treated by a vet without anesthesia or can be carried to a vet in case of emergency without stress. Further therapies can be applied, like rubbing with ointment or medication, without problem.
Neither are my animals trained nor have they turned into tamed pets. Despite their socialization towards men, they still show absolutely typical behavior patterns towards their fellow species. There are no misfeatures: Fellow species are chosen as partners, towards puppies they behave normal and species-specific. The wolf is still no cuddly toy or pet, but remains a wild animal.
Wolves
Wolves are extremely shy by nature. My many years of working with hand bred wolves have shown that those can cope far better with the unnatural stress for wild animals, like contact to people in public wild parks or zoos, than shy wild animals. My animals perceive the crowd behind the fence not as a threat. To a great extent they lack the wolf- typical attitude towards men - to run away. Their attitude is rather friendly which makes it easier for the visitors to watch them. Respect and dignity towards the wolf as a fellow creature benefit from getting to know them at such close proximity and increases the public interest in wild living wolves. So my wolves became missioners for the wild living fellow- species.
To speak on behalf of the animals the advantage by far overweighs the disadvantages. The confident relationship eases the daily contact and enables me to check the state of health, discover clinical signs of illness far earlier and put me in the position to deliver a precise diagnosis ( e.g. by sweeping). When I am present my wolves can be treated by a vet without anesthesia or can be carried to a vet in case of emergency without stress. Further therapies can be applied, like rubbing with ointment or medication, without problem.
Neither are my animals trained nor have they turned into tamed pets. Despite their socialization towards men, they still show absolutely typical behavior patterns towards their fellow species. There are no misfeatures: Fellow species are chosen as partners, towards puppies they behave normal and species-specific. The wolf is still no cuddly toy or pet, but remains a wild animal.
Wolves very much differ from each other regarding appearance, character and temper. Each of them has an unique personality with strengths and weaknesses and likes and dislikes and I would be glad to introduce them to you here.
