I came across the film Takaya lone Wolf last spring. I watched it with my sons and my father and we all loved how the film documented his life in particular the fact that he was a lone wolf and wondering as to why he choose this way of life as his. I think a lot of people can identify with the idea of separating out from your pack in search of solitude, leaving the familiar and moving to being fully independent. The majority of us create new packs with ties to the packs of origin, but there are those who don't, for spiritual, creative and subjective reasons. Many spiritual and therapeutic traditions highlight the individuals drive to walk the road less travelled, a path that as an artist interested in nature and spirituality I feel drawn to myself. In this sense I felt from my own perspective an understanding of his lone Ness and also a huge admiration for his ability to live, survive and thrive alone a testament to his wolf nature and also to nature itself. His reasons for choosing a lone life may not follow our drive to do so, but parallels can also be drawn in terms of the many reasons for wanting to be lone.

Takaya was also a very beautiful animal, I've always has a close bond with dogs and a fascination with wolves from a young age and he was a very beautiful one. Beautiful head and those gorgeous wolf eyes that seem to look through you with their wildness.

His subsequent death has given voice to the plight that wolves face presently with declining numbers, and trophy hunting being at the fore front of topics which need to be addressed all over the world if we are to see the survival of wolves as a species and part of our eco system. A vital part of that is to understand the wolf more and also how can that be achieved so it is fair to all.

Coming from Ireland a country where wolves for centuries extinct its important that plans need to be put in place so that the cry of a wolf is something out children's children will still be able to hear and also that this generation might be the one that solves the argument of the myth of merciless predator, something to be feared with the reality of the position wolves hold within our ecosystem, a system that doesn't work effectively with too many or too little of any species, including our own. For as long as I can remember I've also had this awe and also fear around the idea of what and how a wolf was represented. In fairytales and films down through the years wolves have for the main part been portrayed as savage and fierce animals who devour livestock and are a danger to all humans and human business . There are the stories of werewolves and mental illness, another connotation that an encounter with wolves can only be detrimental. The reality is quite different. As takaya lone wolf portrays. It is more balanced and sympathetic to understanding the wolf and in particular this one lone wolf, an intriguing story in its own right. Links can be drawn to our similarities and also to our differences, our needs and theirs and possibly the chance to open up a dialogue about what options we have to help the wolf as well as all parts of the eco system. Little did takaya know that his legacy would bridge a gap between the past and the future. His death the sacrifice all wolves seem to be forced into in order for their lives to be protected.
The Irish for wolf is Mactire. It means Son of the Land. The wolf certainly sounds like he was revered by our ancient Irish ancestors. Long before we turned to persecute them to the pint of extinction. What happened in between the time we revered them and culled each one? How did they become know as the big bad wolf...all of them?
We are all the sons and daughters of the lmad. We inherit it from those who walked before us as we will will it to the generations to come.
Surely we could be the generation that bridged the gap between us and them- that found a compromise between our needs and theirs!