Two Weeks of Retirement, Malik and the Pack are Adjusting

Malik is adjusting well to Retirement after a wood visual barrier was erected to reduce the focus of the Exhibit Pack at the fence line. The main pack is very calm, and there are no indications that Shadow is losing any status. Shadow has a great bond with all pack members.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Minnesota
• Ely Minnesota
• wolf
• wolves
• International Wolf Center
• captive wolf
• Captive wolves

[KLMCMAWW]

After viewing this film again it seems almost as if Malik is nervous and uncomfortable with the wooden fence. He is constantly looking at it and walking around it. Seems restless and unsure. Hopefully he will calm down and enjoy the peace given to him by IWC staff. Being away from the pack must be weighing heavily on him even if he did have alot of aggression toward him. Wonder who the new Omega will be?

Dona

[IntlWolfCenter]

The fence had an immediate calming effect on Malik, but it does take time to get use anything new on the enclosure, the looking up also has a lot to do with Raven's landing on the fence and on the trees. Next week's Youtube will show him chasing ravens, but anything new is always an adjustment. This is why we are waiting to add the webcam. Right now, the security cam is very important for staff management, and an additional camera may be too stressful.

[minawa21]

glad that malik is adjusting i was wondering how the poor guy was doing.. i bet he get lonely over there by himself.. oh well he will eventualy have shadow over there with him some day.. i wonder how thats going to turn out when they do retire shadow

[IntlWolfCenter]

Malik has many howling bouts with the pack, and that's a good sign, that he is psychologically still a part of the pack, but he is physically safe now.

Lori Schmidt

Wolf Curator

[Sophie94603]

I'm glad to see Malik is adjusting. He seems peaceful. I wonder what caused the other members of his pack to turn against him the way they did? Is there a reason?

And the rest of the pack seem to be adjusting as well. I wonder how the structure of the pack will be now that Malik has been retired.

I love to see the Wolves, they are so beautiful.

[IntlWolfCenter]

The reason for the dominance towards Malik was probably related to Malik's behavior, he was getting increasingly nervous, and nervous energy is weak. A wolf pack is defined by dominance hierarchy and calm assertive behavior. When one shows anxious or nervous behavior, this is a weakness. It what wolves do. During winter, even with an exhibit of spayed and neutered animals, the winter breeding season aggression plays a role.

Lori Schmidt

Wolf Curator

[KLMCMAWW]

It seems as if Malik is adjusting to life alone. Which is unusual for a wolf since they are such a pack animal. But he seems calmer and less tense. Being the Omega must have been hard on him. He can still smell and sense the pack so hopefully that will help until Shadow retires or another wolf needs to be retired.

The pack is alot more calm also. Hopefully everything will be fine in the  future. God Bless the wolves!!

Dona

[lebrow2]

So happy that Malik is adjusting to retirement, and that the Ely team are watching out for him. It looks like the privacy wall was a great idea! Now that the exhibit pack dynamics have changed I want to see what Grizzer will do as Denali continues to test for position...

[1234kira12345]

thnk u for protecting malik he deserves i

he is a beautiful wolf and 1 day his brother will join him

[Sophie94603]

Thank you Lori for your explanation. I follow these beautiful Wolves closely, hoping to learn more about Wolves. I appreciate your reply. It was confusing to me why they behaved this way toward him suddenly.

I'm glad he is safe and well. I think Malik is so beautiful.

[minawa21]

well thats good to hear..

[WhiteVV01F]

The intensity of Malik's previous position I bet was starting to gain on him. He seems more calm now. Relieved, is the right word I think.