Despite
their incredible beauty and their obvious similarities with our considerably
tamer canine companions, everyone knows not to play with wolves. So when
wildlife photographer Nick Jans and his Labrador encountered a wild wolf behind
their home, adrenaline started pumping through them both.
When
the wolf approached the Labrador, Nick could only stand helplessly by and
watch. But what he didn't know then, on that cold winter day of 2003 was that
that encounter was the beginning of a relationship that defied all logic - and
fundamentally transformed an entire community.
During
the winter of 2003, a jet-black wolf showed up on the edge of suburban Juneau,
Alaska. But this wolf didn’t bear his teeth and growl aggressively. Instead, it
seemed to long for companionship. Wildlife photographer Nick Jans was on his
back porch when he saw the wolf for the first time. Despite the danger, Nick’s
Labrador went to meet the visitor.
Nick,
who had photographed and tracked wolves for years, immediately knew that the
wolf was wild. So he was shocked when his Labrador suddenly started to play
with him. He hurriedly grabbed his camera, and began to capture the unexpected
moment.
After
a while, the wolf returned into the wilderness, but it wasn’t long before he
returned. The wolf would come to Nick’s house to greet him often and sometimes
it even followed Nick when the photographer went skiing. And the wolf was
always gentle, says Nick.
“This
wolf was downright relaxed and tolerant from the start, as if he had dropped
out of the sky like a unicorn,” the photographer told National Geographic.
Years
passed and Nick spent much time documenting the wolf. He eventually named the
wolf Romeo. At first, many of the small town's residents didn’t trust Romeo,
but they soon realized that he was a wolf unlike any other.
Romeo
soon became known by everyone in the area. People took their dogs to Mendenhall
Glacier Park so their dogs could meet Romeo. There were never any serious
incidents.
Not
only did Romeo make plenty of dog friends in and around Juneau, he even
sometimes interacted and played with humans.
“The
wolf would bring out toys that he’d stashed. One was a Styrofoam float. Romeo
would pick it up and bring it to [my friend] Harry to throw. He clearly
understood the same sort of behaviors that we see in dogs," Nick said.
“The
amazing thing was Romeo’s understanding. It wasn’t just our understanding and
tolerance. It was the combination of his and ours and the dogs. We were these
three species working out how to get along harmoniously. And we did,” said
Nick.
Romeo
lived on the outskirts of Juneau for six years. He became an ambassador for
nature and a powerful symbol for the entire community.
“He
was a pure wild wolf. He was not a pet, as some suggested, that had been
released, because then he would have been coming to us for food. He was his own
gatekeeper and came and went as he pleased. Sometimes he disappeared for weeks.
He clearly was catching and eating wild food with great skill,” explained Nick.
After
six years, Romeo’s time in the community ended. He passed away in 2010, but
residents will never forget how he transformed the village.
“The
average life span of a wolf in the wild is three years. Romeo was already full
grown when he showed up, and then he lived among us for six-plus more years. So
he was at least eight years old at the time of his death,” Nick says.
Shortly
after Romeo passed away, the city of Juneau commemorated the wolf, creating a
special plaque to honor him. The plaque is installed by the lake he used to
frequent. What a beautiful touch!
That
three such different species were able to live alongside peacefully and in
complete harmony is so inspiring. It really shows you how wonderful the world
and nature can be!
Please share this amazing story with your friends to honor
Romeo's memory.
Source : yourdogadvisor.com