SNOW WOLVES
The Upper Arctic. Late morning. I had been photographing a pack of snow wolves for approximately 7 to 10 minutes. These creatures are also known as “arctic wolves” or “polar wolves”. They don an impeccably white year-round coat that seems to suggest that they leaped directly from the pages of Narnia. When creating wolf wall art, I understood how their name is derived from the icy environment that they inhabit.
The range of the Arctic wolf includes the northern edge of North America and also spreads up to the North Pole and the eastern and northern parts of Greenland. While their appearance is not only very aesthetically pleasing, it also functions as camouflage. Their milky fur allows this creature to melt into the backdrop of its home. It aids it in the hunt of muskoxen, arctic hares and also caribou.
The pack of wolves that I had my eyes on, turned their back on me, denying me the chance to photograph them. Not one to accept defeat so easily, I left my camera and started to walk towards them. The leader of the pack, the Alpha wolf, turned around and also blocked my path. The animal before me was massive. A prime example of its species that can grow to be 5.9 feet long and weigh up to 175 pounds.
Human Interactions with Snow Wolves
The few human settlements around the natural habitat of these snow wolves are newer tenants to the icy land compared to the ancient presence of the animals before me. Consequently, the artic wolf does not fear man as they have neither been hunted nor have they encountered humans enough to develop a fear. In fact, when face to face with a human, they are known to simply stand and gaze. Some coaxing can even convince them to come up close. This makes them a particularly tempting photography subject. Especially since having a timid subject may result in enduring the onslaught of the freezing wind and snow for longer. While rare to encounter in the wild, these bold animals are not threatened by the hunting and habitat destruction that plagues their southern relatives as a result of isolation.
I decided to respect the Alpha’s message and walked back to my camera so that I could observe the snow wolves from a distance. Meanwhile, the Alpha male and his mate had made their way to the top of the mountain. They glared at me from their new advantage point, making absolutely sure that they had driven home their message. And at that moment, I was immediately connected to everything around me. Suddenly, I was present. No longer was I concerned about the discomfort of the — 50 °F cold I was in. For those 7 minutes, I was present in the experience I was having that so few people get to have in their lives. The world around me felt amazing. Even the 7 layers of clothing and also the two pairs of shoes I was wearing did nothing to distract me away from the moment I was experiencing.
In Conclusion
I felt a sense of oneness with my surroundings when I created this wolf wall art. I also felt harmony through my interaction with the arctic wolves. Ever since I do everything I can to be in the moment.
The expedition to photograph the snow wolves was a once in a lifetime experience that I would recommend to everyone. Understandably, not everyone is able or willing to subject themselves to the extreme conditions that these animals call home. So while you may not be able to lock eyes with an Alpha wolf on the tundra, you can still bring the majesty of the creature to your own home. Frozen in time in one of a kind images, the snow wolf’s steely gaze can be yours to display in your home or office. From the comfort of an online art gallery, you can freely browse my vast documentation of this encounter.
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EJAZ KHAN EARTH
Saving wildlife one picture at a time.
