On The Trail of the Maned Wolf (246/268)

On The Trail of the Maned Wolf (246/268)

The maned wolf is the largest representative of the dog family in South America. The name is deceptive, because he is not in fact a wolf. His size, however, has made him the victim of a bad reputation linked to the stories of the "big bad wolf". With long legs measuring on average 90 cm, his is a distinctive shape on the savannas of Central Brazil. But this habitat is increasingly falling foul of coffee, soya and eucalyptus plantations, restricting the range of the maned wolf. In their search for a new habitat many young animals end up on the streets. Prejudice, ignorance and superstition on the part of the locals are a further threat to this charismatic hunter.

For more than 10 years, biologist Rogério Cunha de Paula has been researching the behavior of maned wolfs in the National Park of Serra da Canastra and the surrounding farms. The researcher knows that the cooperation of the local population is essential if the survival of the maned wolf is to be secured in the long term. The farmers often denounce the animals as hen thieves, despite the fact that they predominantly feed on fruits such as that of birthwort, snakes and small rodents. The biologist has already fitted more than 60 maned wolfs with transmitters in order to learn more about these shy loners. Farmers are permitted to join him on his hunts to capture the animals, while his visits to schools give him the opportunity to try and dispel the children's fears of the "big bad wolf". Over 400 kilometers away in the Lazarist Monastery of Caraça, the maned wolf is actually an attraction bringing in visitors from all over Brazil. Night after night, meat is used to attract them and close-up shots are the reward for a long wait. Is this a better public profile for the maned wolf?

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