The Wolf Park in Andalucia, Spain
Face to Face with Wild Wolves in This Unique Nature Park
Feb 2, 2008
The wolf park ( The Lobo Park) in Andalucia, Spain, is just 5 miles outside of Antequera, north of Malaga. Within a sprawling 40 hectares of protected nature park, there are 4 enclosures in which visitors can see packs of the European wolf, Timber wolf, rare white Alaska - Tundra wolf (arctic wolf) and Iberian Wolf.
Educating Children about Wolves
The wolf park is committed to educating children and adults about the ways of the wolf. Guided tours are offered in Spanish, English and German, with a wolf expert giving fascinating facts about behaviour, communication between the wolves, and their magnificent howling. The guide explains how they can tell from the wolves body language when they are happy and playful and when they are fearful or angry.
Wolves in Spain
As recently as the early 1970s the Iberian wolf was officially hunted throughout Spain. Not only did the government distribute strychnine to landowners and peasants, but they paid out bounties for dead wolves. The lobero or wolf-hunter was a highly respected figure who used a range of traps to catch his prey. At the wolf park they hope to promote wolves as a species worth conserving in Andalucia and other parts of Spain.
Wild Wolves
All the wolves in the park have been bottle fed by the handlers. This removes the animal’s natural shyness of humans and makes it possible for visitors to observe the adult wolves. Although the wolves are socialized in this way, they are not tame or trained and remain wild wolves. This means that to some extent it is possible to observe their natural behaviour as it would be in the wild. Whilst it is clear that they might be curious about humans, they do not wish to be stroked or petted.
The huge enclosures have plenty of space for the wolves and a safe viewing platform for visitors. The handlers feed the wolves at regular times, allowing visitors the opportunity to see the animals close up.
Funding
The wolf park receives no state funding. Each year they expect around 30,000 visitors. Although this is not enough to cover costs, the owners remain optimistic about the future of the wolf park.
- Opening hours10am Monday to Sunday
- Cost of Guided Tours 7.50 euros ( US $11) for adults and 5.50 euros (US $8) for children under 12
An added bonus is a small “zoo” with a variety of wonderful farm animals including pot-bellied pigs, geese, goats and chickens, and even a fox.
Telephone +34 952 03 11 07.
Wolf T shirts and other mementos are available from the shop in the Lobo Park. There is a café and a wolf museum is under construction.
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