Support the park

Loading
Loading

Wolf

( Canis lupus )

The wolf is the world’s most widespread predator and the largest in Denmark. They are very social animals and live in packs consisting of a breeding pair and their offspring of various ages. When the young wolves are old enough, they leave the pack and can travel great distances to find a place to settle. Wolves primarily feed on deer, wild boar, and hares. They are very shy animals and prefer to avoid close contact with humans.

1

Hear the Wolf

2

Weight

35 - 60 kg

3

Habitat

Forest, tundra and grasslands

4

Diet

Carnivore

5

Offspring

1-10 puppies

Get to know Wolf

Classification: Mammals

Order: Carnivores

Family: Canidae

Distribution: Entire Northern Hemisphere

Habitat: Forest, tundra and grasslands

Lifespan: In the wild 8-10 years. In captivity up to 15 years.

Body length: 100-145 cm + 50 cm tail

Height at the shoulder: 70-80 cm

Weight: Male: 45-60 kg; Female: 35-45 kg

Maturity: 2 years

Oestrus: March and April

Gestation: 63 days

Number of offspring: 1-10 puppies, usually 4-7 each year

Diet: Carnivore; meat including all deer species, hare, beaver, smaller mammals

Habitat

The European grey wolf is one of the most adaptable predators in the world and can live in many different types of natural environments. It is found in dense forests, open plains, mountainous regions, tundra and steppes – and in some areas even in dry desert landscapes. However, the wolf’s choice of habitat depends not only on the type of nature, but first and foremost on the availability of prey. Where there is an abundance of food such as deer, roe deer or hares, the wolf has the best conditions for settling.

Although wolves generally prefer undisturbed natural areas, they have proven capable of living surprisingly close to humans – as long as there is enough food and they are left in peace.
In Denmark, wolves prefer large, continuous natural areas with little human activity, such as the plantations in central and western Jutland. Here, red deer and roe deer are especially important sources of food.

Distribution

The European grey wolf is found today across large parts of Europe and Asia, inhabiting forests, mountains, and open landscapes. For centuries, the wolf was heavily persecuted and eradicated from most of Western Europe, but in recent decades, it has made a remarkable comeback. Thanks to legal protection, conservation efforts, and abundant prey, wolves have expanded westward from stable populations in Eastern Europe—reclaiming territories where they had been absent for over a hundred years.
Stable populations can now be found in countries such as Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Baltic states. In Scandinavia, wolves live primarily in Sweden and Finland, where they establish territories in vast forest areas, and some individuals also roam into Norway.

In 2012, the wolf returned to Denmark. Today, a small number of wolves live primarily in Jutland, including both roaming individuals and established breeding pairs. The Danish population is closely monitored by scientists and environmental authorities.

Djursland

In recent years, the wolf has made a remarkable return to Denmark after nearly 200 years of absence. The first confirmed wolf sighting in modern times occurred in Jutland in 2012, and since then, the species has gradually recolonized parts of the country, migrating naturally from Germany. On Djursland, several observations were documented in the summer of 2018, including camera trap photos taken in Norddjurs on July 8 and August 5. Additional sightings were reported later in the autumn.

DNA analysis strongly suggests that the wolf observed on Djursland was a male known as GW900m, born in 2017 as part of the very first litter of wild-born Danish wolves in modern times—offspring of the so-called Ulfborg pair in western Jutland.
These observations on Djursland reflect the wolf’s natural dispersal behavior, where young individuals leave their birth territory to seek out new areas. While no breeding pairs or permanent wolf territories have been established on Djursland, the region has proven to be a passage area for wandering wolves.
The national wolf monitoring program, conducted by the Natural History Museum Aarhus and Aarhus University, continues to track the movement and development of the Danish wolf population. The public is encouraged to report sightings and evidence through Ulveatlas.dk to support the ongoing research and conservation efforts.

Distribution

The European grey wolf is found today across large parts of Europe and Asia, inhabiting forests, mountains, and open landscapes. For centuries, the wolf was heavily persecuted and eradicated from most of Western Europe, but in recent decades, it has made a remarkable comeback. Thanks to legal protection, conservation efforts, and abundant prey, wolves have expanded westward from stable populations in Eastern Europe—reclaiming territories where they had been absent for over a hundred years.
Stable populations can now be found in countries such as Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Baltic states. In Scandinavia, wolves live primarily in Sweden and Finland, where they establish territories in vast forest areas, and some individuals also roam into Norway.

In 2012, the wolf returned to Denmark. Today, a small number of wolves live primarily in Jutland, including both roaming individuals and established breeding pairs. The Danish population is closely monitored by scientists and environmental authorities.

Djursland

In recent years, the wolf has made a remarkable return to Denmark after nearly 200 years of absence. The first confirmed wolf sighting in modern times occurred in Jutland in 2012, and since then, the species has gradually recolonized parts of the country, migrating naturally from Germany. On Djursland, several observations were documented in the summer of 2018, including camera trap photos taken in Norddjurs on July 8 and August 5. Additional sightings were reported later in the autumn.

DNA analysis strongly suggests that the wolf observed on Djursland was a male known as GW900m, born in 2017 as part of the very first litter of wild-born Danish wolves in modern times—offspring of the so-called Ulfborg pair in western Jutland.
These observations on Djursland reflect the wolf’s natural dispersal behavior, where young individuals leave their birth territory to seek out new areas. While no breeding pairs or permanent wolf territories have been established on Djursland, the region has proven to be a passage area for wandering wolves.
The national wolf monitoring program, conducted by the Natural History Museum Aarhus and Aarhus University, continues to track the movement and development of the Danish wolf population. The public is encouraged to report sightings and evidence through Ulveatlas.dk to support the ongoing research and conservation efforts.

The Wolf Park

The wolf facility at Scandinavian Wildlife Park covers 15,000 m². It’s designed to mimic the wolves’ natural habitat and includes hills, trees, and lakes, providing the wolves with the opportunity to display their natural behavior.

Visitors can experience the wolves up close via a 200-meter-long boardwalk that winds through the enclosure. From here, you can observe the wolves at eye level as they move about in their surroundings.

The residents

At Scandinavian Wildlife Park, we have two wolves. Normally, a wolf pack would consist of a small family – a breeding pair and their pups from different litters. In the park, we don’t have a breeding pair, but it’s still a small family, as the two wolves living here are brothers.

The wolves in the park are socialized, which means they have been in close contact with humans since they were pups. Because of this, our wolves are not quite as shy as their wild relatives. Still, they can be difficult to spot. So, keep your eyes open when visiting the wolf park – you might see one of the wolves in the forest, or catch a glimpse of a pair of ears in the tall grass.

Name:

Odin

Born:

17.05.2014

Gender:

Han

Odin moved to Scandinavian Wildlife Park together with Loke when they were six months old. Odin believes he’s the one in charge, but in reality, he’s a bit of a scaredy-cat.

Name:

Loke

Born:

17.05.2014

Gender:

Han

Loke usually does what Odin says, but when something new happens, Loke takes the lead and becomes the one who shows the way.

Verdenskort