Thursday, October 5, 2023

The Wolf returns to Denmark

     In about 1812, wolves disappeared from Denmark. It wasn't a magical disappearance but a dedicated hunt brought about by farmers with chickens and shepherds guarding flocks. In medieval times, the body of a dead wolf was hung in the town gallows for all to celebrate but, later, a private shot in the head would do. Them, in 2012, the wolf was returned to Denmark.  This show focused on the wolf in the Round Tower in Copenhagen. explored the history and the current story. 

 

      In fairy tales, there is a wolf who tracks Little Red Riding Hood. Some version of the story has been found in French in the 10th century. The one familiar to Americans is likely the German version by the Brothers Grimm. An Italian version is called The False Grandmother and there is an ancient Chinese story called Lon Po Po. Ed Young translated that in 1989. 

     The wolf might chase a little girl or go after house building pigs in stories but the threat to livestock is a real world story, one seldom mitigated by the ecological benefit of wolves. That story is in the documentary about bringing the wolf back to Yellowstone. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQGKuPbi1EY)

    Both sides of the story were presented. As is often the case, I got caught in the story and forgot to take many pictures. The exhibit of dogs from tiny to huge was striking and also a little upsetting. I did look for a sign indicating that no dogs were harmed in the creation of this exhibit. It may have been there in Danish which would have been only mysterious notations to me.