Wolf, dog and our responsibility for creation

The diversity of creation evolved over hundreds of millions of years, driven by sex, eating and being eaten until the Mesozoic era. It was only with mammals and birds that love, co-operation and an increasingly complex ecology came into the world around 200 million years ago. And this is exactly what all living creatures, including humans, need to survive, but biodiversity is currently collapsing at breakneck speed. As apex predators, wolves stabilise ecosystems. And we know that protecting the large predators benefits biodiversity and even the climate. 40,000 years ago, humans and wolves even became allies - otherwise we wouldn't have dogs. And today we need them more urgently than ever - as partners in hunting, protecting and rescuing, but above all as social companions in a time of increasing bad news. A good life with a dog brings joy, stabilises, buffers against stress and helps to bring out the best sides of being human. Pet wolves really do make us better people.

Kurt Kotrschal, retired professor at the University of Vienna, is a renowned Austrian biologist and behavioural scientist and one of the most internationally respected wolf researchers. For two decades, he has dedicated himself to researching wolves, dogs and their relationship with humans. He was the direct successor of Konrad Lorenz at his institute in Grünau and is co-founder of the WSC - Wolf Science Centre in Ernstbrunn, Austria. He is the author of books and numerous scientific publications. 

This event is a co-operation with the NABU Region Bernkastel-Wittlich