quote:
Originally posted by dear Sandy:
I have never heard of Helene Grimaud, but you have peeked my interest in her.
p141 The wolf pup must be socialized, and socialized relentlessly, from when it is only a few weeks old. The social bonds that the animal will maintain later in life are formed in earliest infancy. To make the deepest imprint, the best and most efficient means of socialization involve physical contact -- caresses, games, looks, and keeping the pup close by -- as well as bringing food even before the pup is weaned.. Wolves also became of vital importance during the Paleolithic era.. They used wolves to track and, above all, to pursue game.
At the same time, the tamed wolf, with which the hunters shared their prey, became dependent on humans for food. Selectively bred, the animal lost qualities inherent to the wild species and gradually evolved toward the dog -- it became smaller, its shape changed, and its muzzle shortened. This is what is called neoteny, i.e., the retention of juvenile characteristics in the adults of a species.
p192 Like the fox, the wolf (
Canis lupus) is a member of the Canidae family. Members of this family have five toes on each forefoot, forty-two teeth, and an elongated muzzle. Along with the domesticated dog, the jackal, and the coyote, it forms the
Canis genus, characterized by a pronounced forehead, a somewhat shorter tail, and a less pointed muzzle.
The wolf measures about 55 inches long, the tail adding 12 to 20 inches to this. Its weight ranges between 60 and 180 pounds...
p272 In Mongolia, horsemen used eagles to track wolves. In America, the Comanche caught them with lassos and killed them with spears. Just like bounty hunters, professionals hired by the governors of Colorado and other states tracked wolves to their lairs, where they exterminated the litters.
Today, the species is extinct in Ireland, the United Kingdom, France (the wolves that roam there came from Italy through the Alpine passes), Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary. And the hunt continues in Eastern Europe, Mongolia, China, and in the Balkans. It was only in 1979 that the Berne Convention finally declared
Canis lupus to be a protected species.
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Dear Sandy, please look into buying Grimaud's book, it's amazing! Also, she has wonderful organizations to help the wolf!!!
Love and
*LIGHT* being, Teom