Canada – Ellesmere Island

One of the most remote places on this Planet.

The reason I am choosing to write about Ellesmere Island is because of a recent BBC film: Snow Wolf Family and Me.

This video offers a great insight into the film:

Published on Dec 29, 2014

A new BBC film, Snow Wolf Family and Me, explores the lives and habits of arctic wolves, revealing the family secrets of one of our most feared predators. Ellesmere Island is one of the most remote and beautiful places on Earth. This is the only place in the world where wolves are naive to man and have no fear. It allowed wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan and scientists an unparalleled opportunity to form bonds with a wild wolf family, revealing the remarkable story of their relationships and behaviour.

Here series producer Ted Oakes talks about some of the highlights and challenges of being accepted by a wild wolf pack.

Snow Wolf Family and Me will be broadcast on 29th and 30th December 2014 at 21:00 on BBC Two.
Music by Jean-Marc Petsas. Photofilm produced by Dualtagh Herr.

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Family members back in England who did watch both episodes of the film said it was breath-taking, especially the scenes in the second episode where the wolves were filmed coming right up close to Gordon.

What captivated me, seeing how quickly the wolves acclimatised to Gordon and his two colleagues, was imagining that this must have been what it was like when, thousands of years ago, wild wolves bonded with early man providing the start of the glorious and beautiful relationship between canines and humans. A wonderful relationship experienced by millions of us around the world today.

The next short video illustrates that the ancient lineage, from wolf to dog, still resonates between both species.

Ellesmere Island Expedition 2008 – Howling Good Time

Will Steger Foundation

Uploaded on Feb 21, 2010

After a long day of pulling, the dogs serenade the team with a round of howling.

Couple more pictures to close today’s post.

oooo

Another incredible photograph from Tanja Askani

16 thoughts on “Canada – Ellesmere Island”

Patrice Ayme says:

Jan 7, 2015 at 00:43

Well, I am not too surprised. Wolves, and other advanced predators, but more so wolves, respect human beings (if they did not learn to hate them). What is weird, though, is that, as far as I know, only European wolves were domesticated.

Jared Diamond said geography is fate, but maybe fate makes geography.

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Patrice Ayme says:

Jan 7, 2015 at 00:44

In any case, quite interesting! 😉

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1. Paul Handover says:
  
  Jan 7, 2015 at 07:28
  
  Thanks Patrice, and a Happy New Year to you.
  
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  1. Patrice Ayme says:
    
    Jan 7, 2015 at 14:58
    
    Happy New Year Paul! And please visit Thoughts! 😉
    
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  2. Paul Handover says:
    
    Jan 7, 2015 at 15:23
    
    Thanks Patrice, and my apologies for being a bit quiet over on the Thoughts site! Book writing. and now editing, plus all the fun and games of Christmas and the New Year, all conspired to rob me of the pleasant times normally spent over at your place.
    
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Alex Jones says:

Jan 7, 2015 at 04:35

May such a place stay free of major human impact.

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1. Paul Handover says:
  
  Jan 7, 2015 at 07:29
  
  Here! Here!
  
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Val Boyko says:

Jan 7, 2015 at 05:19

Thanks for this Paul! I’ll come back to watch the video later.

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1. Paul Handover says:
  
  Jan 7, 2015 at 07:30
  
  You will not be disappointed!
  
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  1. Val Boyko says:
    
    Jan 7, 2015 at 13:36
    
    I wasn’t!
    (SMILE)
    Thank you Paul!
    Val x
    
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Hariod Brawn says:

Jan 7, 2015 at 05:49

Thanks Paul, I will see if I can view that film on BBC’s catch-up service; it looks wonderful.

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1. Paul Handover says:
  
  Jan 7, 2015 at 07:32
  
  Yes, both episodes are still available from BBC iPlayer. Sing out if you have any problems and I’ll add a comment with the links included – only for UK viewers. 😦
  
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C. E. Robinson says:

Jan 7, 2015 at 09:45

Thanks for this post Paul! I’m fascinated with wolves and will view the video later. I’ve seen other videos that are incredible showing the relationship of people and wolves. I’m noticing pack similarities in our two dogs. Christine

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1. Paul Handover says:
  
  Jan 7, 2015 at 14:16
  
  Thanks Christine. As a matter of interest, are those other videos that you have watched available online?
  
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Sue Dreamwalker says:

Jan 9, 2015 at 12:23

I so loved this series.. And was amazed how the Wolves trusted Gordon with their pups while they went off hunting.. Beautiful.. and again shows How they trust when they have no reason to FEAR.. x

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1. Paul Handover says:
  
  Jan 9, 2015 at 14:33
  
  I would have put good money on two things: first that you would make a point of watching the episodes and, second, that you would so love the episodes. 🙂 Was it just the two episodes?
  
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