It’s like something out of a movie. A pack of wolves in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Zoo dug a bold tunnel to escape their enclosure. But unlike Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption, they missed the mark. Instead of tasting sweet freedom, they wound up chilling with the polar bears.
After their daring nighttime escape, the five wolves were found the next morning walking around the polar bear habitat while two female bears dozed nearby, seemingly unfazed by the invasion. The wolves were immediately separated from the bears by their keepers and returned to their proper enclosure.
It’s not surprising that the polar bears left the wolves in peace instead of pieces, as there are documented instances where well-fed bears and wolves have a tendency to become fast friends.
The makeshift tunnel was then sealed, hopefully permanently. Officials at the zoo wish to assure the public that the wolves never had a chance of escaping to an area of the zoo with humans. They also wish to announce that their Journey to Churchill exhibit is once again open for public viewing.
Whether the wolves will attempt another daring escape remains to be seen, but in the meantime their keepers are watching closely indeed.
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