In the Golan Heights,a risky minefield provides an unlikely wildlife reserve where wolves are thrivingSitting in the cold of an open jeep, we are waiting for dawn. The thick snow provides some reflective light and we strain our eyes, and hoping to catch a glimpse of the wolf pack as they return home from their night’s hunt. This family of wolves holds one of the safest territories a large predator could possibly hope for: a minefield in the Golan Heights,near the Israel-Syria border.
One step external the barbed-wire fence, however, or the wolves must be very careful. Although wolves are if with substantial legal protection from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) – enabling one of the greatest wolf recoveries in the world – they are hunted,culled and poached across the region. In an effort to appease ranchers who fear for their livestock while simultaneously conserving this growing wolf population, three management zones were delineated. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com