Biology

Reproduction

The mating season coincides with the winter months. Unlike dogs, wolves reproduce only once a year. Only the dominant male and female mate within the pack; this mechanism, together with territoriality, contributes to the regulation of the wolf population, which must be adapted to the feeding and spatial resources of a territory. The litter, born in the spring,  is composed of 2 to 6 puppies and the whole pack collaborates in its breeding. The young wolves born in previous years help parents in this task, reinforcing family ties and gaining needed experience when they will become parents themselves.

In the first weeks of life puppies are very dependent on the mother who nurses them and keeps them in a real den, moving them if necessary by carrying them by the scruff. When they are more independent the puppies reside in a wider area, outdoors, but with dense vegetation and hiding places, called “rendez-vous“, the heart of the pack’s territory, where young wolves await the return of the adults from the hunt.

After breastfeeding, the puppies are weaned with the food that adults regurgitate at their request, when the little ones persistently lick their snout, a typical wolf behaviour at this stage. In the period of socialization puppies are more curious and autonomous and the interaction between them and with adults increases, mimicking for fun the struggles and pursuits that will mark out their future life.

History

Birth of protected areas

………we are writing it…………

Curiosity

Role of protected areas

The priorities of a National Protected Natural Area are to maintain, preserve and enhance the country’s natural heritage. By expanding its horizons  to the Earth, the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) has the mission to persuade, encourage and assist societies around the world, in order to preserve the integrity and diversity of nature. These high goals, expressed with noble words, are the reasons behind the establishment of Parks and Reserves, and cannot and must never be called into question. They are the essential nucleus of any action of environmental protection and, it is worth emphasizing, even of Man, too.

Combining this care and protection, emanating often from the central authorities, with the life of local populations is among the most delicate issues, subject of  controversy. So today, in order to carry out their institutional goals efficiently, it is important for Protected Natural Areas to regain their authority, with a change in  perspective.

This will have to go through the search for new ways and ideas leading to experiment and promote new practices, which will transform the protected territories into real “innovative laboratories of life”, where the fair and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources will be expression of harmony, sense of joy and serenity. A decisive step, where protection,  conservation and enhancement of the territory will be an expression of desirable lifestyle. A balance between Preserving and Progressing in a civil way, for the benefit of Nature and Man.