Meet the wolves of Polar Park

“No sudden movements...

We then walked in single file up to the highest point of the enclosure, moving slowly to not agitate the wolves.

Don’t fall to the ground…

And whatever happens, don’t run.”

It’s not every day you get to meet a wolf pack face to face, although for Stig Sletten this is just routine. However, he was quick to warn Gordon and the rest of our crew of the ‘DOs’ and, more importantly, the definite ‘DO NOTs’.

Polar Park, in Arctic Norway, is home to three packs of wolves that are habituated to humans. However, before entering the enclosure anything remotely interesting to a wolf had to be hidden, removed or carried by Stig. Cables, boom poles, even gloves and hats (despite the -10oC temperature) all had to go. Once everyone had been wolf-proofed, we entered through the first of the huge wire gates into the ‘holding pen’. The second gates were then opened and in charged five fully grown wolves. They were incredibly excited to investigate the newcomers, jumping up and running around the crew.

Gordon was first to follow Stig into the main enclosure. Once inside, on Stig’s command he slowly knelt down. All the wolves clambered over him, trying to lick his mouth to say hello. By doing this, Gordon would be accepted into their territory. We then walked in single file up to the highest point of the enclosure, moving slowly to not agitate the wolves. We filmed for the next few hours, quickly realising why Stig had to carry the lenses rucksack. With its many straps it was incredibly interesting for a wolf, causing them to growl and fight for ownership. However, as Stig knows them so well, he wasn’t fazed or knocked down by their advances. His understanding and care for these wolves was incredible to witness.

Towards the end of our filming the wolves started to get bored and played amongst themselves. They had said hello and we hadn’t done anything threatening, so they were content. Realising we were onto a good thing, we retreated and left this land of the wolf.