At 8 weeks-old an orphaned Gray wolf pup has quite a tale to tell about his experiences in life.
Rescued by vacationers who found him wandering along the side of a road in central Idaho, the wolf is now being raised by a German short-haired pointer after being flown to a new home at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA.
Nicknamed “Boise,” the orphaned wolf pup was rescued by a group of campers near the resort town of Ketchum, Idaho when they mistakenly believed he was a lost puppy. The vacationers contacted a local veterinarian who, in turn, called Idaho Fish and Game. Boise was then sent to a local zoo that took care of him until a DNA test confirmed he was Gray wolf.
Idaho Fish and Game made several attempts to find the pup’s pack, but when that failed they began searching for a permanent home for him.
Together with Zoo Boise, Fish and Game officials chose Busch Gardens Williamsburg as the young wolf’s new home. The theme park is home to 10 wolves, including two 6-week-old pups they recently acquired from a private breeder.
”Because of our 12-year experience with wolves and the fact that we already had two wolf pups at the park played a major role in the decision by Idaho state officials to choose Busch Gardens for the pup’s new home,” said Jay Tacey, zoological manager for Busch Gardens.
Tacey said Boise immediately took to his new pack, which consists of the two 6-week old pups and a German short-haired pointer named Mia who is serving as their surrogate mother.
“The young pack mates are getting along and adjusting very well,” Tacey said. “They are playing and discovering their new home.”
Boise was flown into Williamsburg International Airport in late June, where he was met by the park’s team of wolf experts.
Boise and the two yet-to-be-named pups will eventually be introduced to one of Busch Gardens’ three wolf packs. For now, Mia has taken the role of pack leader, teaching the pups about wolf pack hierarchy.
“Boise has been given a second chance at life thanks to the leadership and support of Idaho Fish and Game, Zoo Boise and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries,” said Tracey. (Source)
VIDEO Rescued Wolf cub transferred to Busch Gardens Williamsburg
sweet story
So happy to hear he has a new home...it looks like a good one!
His name should be Ketchum though, not Boise!
So wonderful! Love the pointer MOM.
Beautiful wolf Pup , Im so glad he was Given a Second Chance. Im glad he is not out there to be Murdered in Idaho. I think They Belong In the Wild But Not To be Slaughtered. There a Beautiful Animal and They Need to Be Respected Not Slaughtered.
So very glad he was given a second chance.They are a dying bred due to hunters and humans not understanding that they are loving and loyal animals. Also very glad he was brought to Virginia
Great story!
Thanks to those campers who rescued him! He is such a beauty and he deserves to live a happy life - they all do, but unfortunately there are enough human monsters out there who shoot and torture them for fun...it is so disgusting...this heart warming little story gives hope!!
Really nice to see. Thank you!
This is so terrific!!
The pup was probably orphaned because his pack was killed; they would never abandon him; this is reprehensible!
Wish everyone could show the shame level of compassion as the campers who rescued him and made the effort to take him to a place that could help him. They should get free lifetime passes to Busch Gardens.
very cool story .. thank you to all the people who saved/helped...
so awesome glad he found a good home!
a beautiful ending to a sad story .
This saddens me because a wolf pack would never abandon the babies, which leads me to believe it's pack family was murdered by wolf hunters.It was lucky to be found by someone with compassion for the wolves or this little one would also be dead..I'm ashamed to say I live in Wisconsin right now because of the Wolf Hunt going on here right now.The trapping of the Wolf horrifies me it is so inhumane,the animal suffers terribly and to think of a wolf suffering with a steel trap on it's leg until the trapper comes back and kills the Wolf.We once protected the Wolf now they hunt it because we did such a good job of protecting the Wolf.Realize it's the Ranchers and farmers that want this hunt. There are other ways for them to protect their herds.Mastiff's are working dogs that would keep the wolves and any other predator away.Sure some ranches would need 10-20 Mastiff's some just a few,but I think it's a far better way to protect their animals than to murder Wolves.It would also give Mastiff's jobs and families.Help save the Wolves buy a Mastiff.
It is truly a shame more people are not like Karen H.!
What a beautiful experience for both man and wolf. A gentle hand and kindness does it every time.
Love that this pup found a good home, New litter mates and a foster mom and of course a staff to take care of Boise and the others.