Camperdown wolf pack escaped enclosure twice before being put down

Four young wolves at Camperdown Wildlife Centre in Dundee escaped their enclosure twice before being put down over fears they could attack the public, The Courier can reveal.

The pack was euthanised earlier this year after becoming stressed when alpha male Loki failed to recover from surgery on an abdominal injury.

The decision led to criticism from members of the public, who questioned why the otherwise healthy wolves couldn’t be saved.

It later emerged that some people had threatened workers at the zoo, which is run by Leisure and Culture Dundee.

The Courier has now obtained minutes of a meeting of the zoo’s ethics committee, which details the process staff went through to come to the decision to euthanise the animals.

And it reveals that the wolves – Bear, 6, and fiveyear-olds James, Frank and Fenrir – had breached their enclosure on two occasions while Loki was unwell.

That led to concerns they could attack visitors to the centre.

The ethics committee met on Monday March 27.

According to the minutes, supplied to The Courier through a freedom of information request, five people appear to have been present at the meeting.

The document reveals the following timeline:

March 15: Loki displayed signs of abdominal discomfort.

A vet was contacted and it transpired a small tear in Loki’s intestine had started to leak and cause him discomfort. This was repaired and closed up, and Loki was returned to the enclosure but confined to his house overnight.

March 16-21: Loki received medication but on the sixth day there was “what looked like a flap of bloody skin protruding from the surgical wound”.

Plans for an operation included dosing each wolf with trazodone and gabapentin, including Loki, in an attempt to keep them calm. This worked for “a couple of hours but did not have a lasting effect”.

March 22-23: Following Loki’s second operation, the wolves “breached their enclosure” on both March 22 and 23. It is not confirmed how this happened or whether any members of the public were present at the time.

They were returned to the enclosure but “it was clear that without Loki, the wolves would either damage themselves on fences or injure members of the public and dogs”.

“One incident was to break through an electric fence carrying 8,500 volts.”

March 27: Loki again had a “flap” hanging from his wound. The stitches had failed and “he would need to be euthanised”.

The report shows that staff considered options for moving the four wolves to another enclosure, but none were suitable.

Given these factors, the decision was taken to euthanise the pack.

In a statement to The Courier, Judy Dobbie, the managing director of Leisure and Culture Dundee, said: “I again emphasise that the wildlife centre staff would not have taken this step without considering alternatives.

“It was with great regret the decision was taken.

“I understand the public’s upset but I would also emphasise that the staff themselves were also upset.

“External experts and the Scottish Government Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Delivery, animal health and welfare division, were satisfied with our process.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are satisfied the staff decided on the best course of action in what was an extremely challenging situation and that no further action is required in this matter.”

CONSIDERED OPTIONS: One ‘breach’ broke through an electric fence carrying 8,500 volts. Picture shows the wolves when they were cubs.