We visited Lobo Park on June 10th 2023 on the 1300 hrs tour - This is not a zoo, or a wildlife park. It's a sanctuary and a place to study the behaviour of different wolf species. It is home to 3 different sub-species of wolves (European, Tundra wolf and native Iberian wolves) and 2 hybrid wolves and a small collection of various rescue animals.
The park was founded by Daniel Weigend and Alexandra Stieber as a private initiative in 2002. However, it was opened to the public. in 2004 so that people could enjoy time with the wolves, learning about their varied life habits and about the different species and how they are different from each other. Herd lifestyles and dynamics can also be observed in the park.
It is a great experience to see wolves in family packs and in such large enclosures. It was a very hot day and in the heat some wolves were busy resting from the midday sun, unlike these crazy English girls.
Our guide Nicole Collin was excellent, extremely knowledgeable, passionate about the wolves and their particular stories and happy to answer questions. There was a Spanish family and my friend Jill and I. The tour was conducted in both Spanish and English and took round about an hour and a half.
First we visited a red fox who had originally been recued by a family and raised in a home environment. The Police contacted Lobo Park to see if she could find a safe home. Of course because she has been raised in a home she can sadly never go back to the wild but she enjoyed the apple that was offered whilst we found out about her
The rest of the rescue animals included 2 pot bellied pigs, a mule, chickens and horses of various sizes.
It was a lovely area where each animal is living a better life than it did prior to being taken in by Lobo Park. In proper facilities in terms of space afforded each enclosure and their living quarters for protection from the weather.
There is also a brilliant bug hotel. This is a lovely thing to see and to understand that all creatures great and small are welcome to make their home in such stunning surroundings at Lobo Park.
Perhaps, you can create your own bug hotel at home and enjoy watching the critters that come to stay.
Our first experience with wolves was with two brothers born in April 2018 - Gregori and Alexei. They were a bit hot and bothered by flies and ran around - not nicely posed for a photo opportunity ha ha ha.
They are both European Wolves ( Canis lupus lupus ) – The European wolf, also known as the Eurasian wolf is one of the most widespread subspecies and is found in almost the entire Eurasian continent. They are a medium sized wolf with a gray-brown coat. In western Europe the wolf was almost extinct but it is making a come back.
There is another huge enclosure that is for a larger family group of European Wolves.
Dmitry grew up in a pack with his siblings, his sister named Elena and his brother, Oleg. Markus is the most dominant male in his pack
Elena has been pack leader since spring 2017. Although her mother Sierra is still alive, she decided it was time for her to take over.
We were very lucky as recently Elena had pups and we were fortunate that we were some of the first visitors to see them.
They are both male so the responsibility to raise them falls to their father Markus.
I personally loved these girls. They looked straight into my eyes and are absolutely stunning. Alaska Tundra ( Canis lupus tundrorum ) – The Tundra wolf is a white wolf, with extremely long legs, capable of surviving extreme weather conditions, from frigid winters to scorching summers. Because of their precious fur they have been very persecuted and especially in the Alaskan Tundra they are close to extinction.
Anouk is a Canadian tundra wolf, she was born in Belgium's Pakawi Park. She arrived at the park in early September 2022 along with her aunt Chandra. Originally only Chandra was planned to be our old Canadian male Hudson's new mate, but as Hudson passed away just before Chandra left Belgium Anouk was sent with her to keep her company.
Jenna and her brother Balto arrived at the park on October 26. They were living like "wolves" in a Ukrainian shelter that had to be evacuated. Prior to this they lived in extremely poor conditions and poor Balto is blind in one eye and does not have all his teeth!
The two have come a long way since arriving at Lobo Park they two touched earth and plants for the first time in their lives.
Shortly after their arrival at the park, it was discovered that Balto and Jenna were not pure wolves, but hybrids (wolf and dog crosses), which are illegal in Europe.
However, Balto and Jenna now have a permanent place at Lobo Park.
Iberian ( Canis lupus signatus ) – The Iberian wolf is one of the smaller subspecies and only lives on the Iberian peninsula. Today Spain has the largest population of wolves in Western Europe. The highest density of wolves is in "La Sierra de la Culebra" (Zamora, Castilla-Léon)
Unfortunately, my phone overheated and I did not manage to take photos of these beautiful wolves. I will happily go back for some photos in the cooler Autumn and will update this section of the blog
Helpful Notes - If you wish to see different species of wolves, the cooler times of the year or an early in the day tour will be better especially if you are taking children.
There is ample parking and a perfect experience for able bodied family members. The ground is rustic road and slightly inclined but sadly not suitable for baby buggies nor wheelchairs.
Please ensure you have proper sturdy footwear, a drink of water, hat, sun lotion and bug spray