A lone wolf that recently ventured into Victoria and had to be relocated by conservation officers has been shot dead. CTV News Vancouver Island has confirmed Takaya, a well known wolf who spent years living alone on Discovery Island, has died this week.
Cheryl Alexander is a conservation photographer who has been following one of nature’s great predators for years and said the animal was shot by a hunter.
“I’ve been crying for the last couple of hours,” said Alexander. “It’s heartbreaking.”
She lives in Victoria and has been following, documenting and studying the lone wolf named Takaya, which lived on Discovery Island off the coast of Oak Bay, for six years. In January, Takaya was seen scurrying down the sidewalks of James Bay and was tranquilized by conservation officers. He was then relocated and released into the wild at an undisclosed location.
Alexander said Takaya was relocated to an area near Port Renfrew.
“I’ve known where he has been for the last month and he’s been doing really great and healthy,” she said.
On Wednesday, she was told by local hunters that a wolf with an ear tag had been shot.
“Takaya is the only wolf on the island with an ear tag,” she said. “I knew right away. I just found out a few hours ago.”
Alexander said she is at a loss for words and wants trophy hunting to be stopped.
“What are we doing allowing trophy hunting?,” she said. “As far as I know it was a legal hunt.”
Source
Cheryl Alexander is a conservation photographer who has been following one of nature’s great predators for years and said the animal was shot by a hunter.
“I’ve been crying for the last couple of hours,” said Alexander. “It’s heartbreaking.”
She lives in Victoria and has been following, documenting and studying the lone wolf named Takaya, which lived on Discovery Island off the coast of Oak Bay, for six years. In January, Takaya was seen scurrying down the sidewalks of James Bay and was tranquilized by conservation officers. He was then relocated and released into the wild at an undisclosed location.
Alexander said Takaya was relocated to an area near Port Renfrew.
“I’ve known where he has been for the last month and he’s been doing really great and healthy,” she said.
The wildlife photographer who closely followed Discovery Island wolf, Takaya, says the wolf has been shot and killed. (Photo by Cheryl Alexander)
On Wednesday, she was told by local hunters that a wolf with an ear tag had been shot.
“Takaya is the only wolf on the island with an ear tag,” she said. “I knew right away. I just found out a few hours ago.”
Alexander said she is at a loss for words and wants trophy hunting to be stopped.
“What are we doing allowing trophy hunting?,” she said. “As far as I know it was a legal hunt.”
Source
Alexander, who has been documenting #Takaya for over six years, says she is at a loss for words and wants trophy hunting to be stopped. pic.twitter.com/Y7cSIE4OQE— Alanna Kelly (@CTVNewsAlanna) March 26, 2020
What kind of hunting season is going on at this time of year?