Pack of Arctic wolves stranded in Limburg
A pack of wolves en route from the Czech Republic to China had to spend the weekend in Flanders after an injury to one of them was discovered at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam
Unscheduled stopover
The eight wolves (pictured) were en route to China when a routine check at Schiphol in Amsterdam discovered one of them had chewed her drinking bowl to pieces and injured her paw on the shards. The animal was tranquillised and treated by a local vet.
“A wounded and tranquillised animal can’t carry on travelling, so temporary accommodation had to be found,” said a spokesperson for the Opglabbeek centre, which has been taking care of wild animals in need since 1976. Space had to be found not only for the wounded animal but also for the rest of the pack. “It’s important that all the animals of a pack remain together, so as not to disturb the hierarchy of the group, and in this case to make sure the injured animal could recover at ease.”
The Opglabbeek centre takes in sick and injured wild animals native to Belgium but also has experience with more exotic species, such as those being smuggled and intercepted by customs, and unusual pets abandoned by their owners. The centre also arranges permanent homes, either in the wild in the case of domestic species or with zoos and animal parks in the case of exotic creatures. The centre is open to visits by groups.
According to the centre, the pack was on its way to an animal park in China. When the wounded animal is recovered, probably this week, the pack will be able to continue the journey.
Photo courtesy Natuurhulpcentrum vzw
