Leopold Slotta-Bachmayr, Salzburger Zoo, 5081 Anif, Austria

Wolfs do not occur in Austria at the present, but the development of the wolf population in Italy and Switzerland lets the immigration of wolfs to our country seem probable. After living hundreds of years without wolfs, people are not used to corporate life with these animals. In Salzburg Zoo we try to influence the attitude of the general public towards wolfs. Remove the prejudices of the people and generally prepare the public for the anticipated return of the wolf to Austria.

Therefor we created a new wolf exhibit to present the animals in their natural european habitat. Part of the exhibit is also a wolf cave where children and adults have the possibility to gather information about wolf ecology and the relationship between wolf and man. Beside this more informative part we organized the Wolf Day where people should meet wolfs on a more emotional way. The goal of this day was to make people feel and act like wolfs. We used different games were children became wolfs. First their face was painted so they really look like a wolf. Then the children-wolfs were hunting for prey, learning the advantages and disadavantages of a pack, they met different types of prey, learning the behaviour of the prey species and finally the children were telling stories about their journey through wolf country. To address also older children and adults we motivated them to move like a wolf. After watching the animals they started to copy wolf behaviour, adding these movements to their own motion and creating a dance. Together this activities should touch the emotion of the people. We also presented mans best friend, the dog. This domesticated wolfs are living with and between us and they are very useful. Showing dogs helping disabled and the work of rescue dogs finding missing persons out in the wild demonstrated the importance of dogs in our life. With all these activities which should be repeated in the following years we will try to create a warm welcome for wolfs as they arrive in our country within the next 5 to 10 years.