Takaya (wolf) facts for kids

Takaya (born around 2010 – died March 24, 2020) was a special lone wolf. He lived by himself on a group of small islands in British Columbia, Canada, for eight years. A photographer named Cheryl Alexander documented his life. She created a 2019 film called Takaya: Lone Wolf and a book with the same name. The book came out in September 2020.

Sadly, in March 2020, a hunter shot and killed Takaya. Many people who admired Takaya, both locally and around the world, were very upset. His death led to calls for changes in the laws that allow people to hunt wolves in British Columbia without a special permit.

Takaya's Journey to the Islands

In 2012, when Takaya was about two years old, he left his wolf family. He traveled over 25 miles through cities and towns. Then, he swam almost two miles through strong ocean currents. He reached a small group of islands near Vancouver Island. You can get to these islands by boat or kayak from the city of Victoria. The islands include Discovery Island and Chatham Islands.

Part of Discovery Island and the Chatham Islands are special lands for the Songhees First Nation. The southern part of Discovery Island is a provincial park. When Takaya was first seen on the islands, park officials closed the provincial park. Wildlife officers tried to catch the wolf. They thought he might get too used to people if he stayed. But Takaya was too smart and avoided their traps. The Songhees Band Council then decided that the wolf should be allowed to stay free. So, the wildlife service left him alone.

Living Alone on the Islands

Takaya lived by himself on these islands for the next eight years. During this time, Cheryl Alexander, the photographer, began to study him closely. She visited the islands often, with special permission from the Songhees people. She took many photos of Takaya and watched how he behaved. She also set up cameras in his territory. She recorded over a thousand hours of video footage of him.

Takaya learned many amazing skills. He learned to catch and skin seals. He also hunted for prickleback fish. He even learned to steal eggs from Canada geese nests. He surprised scientists by learning to dig for fresh water during dry times. Biologists like Chris Darimont said Takaya showed them new things about what wolves can do.

Takaya and Human Visitors

In September 2016, some campers said Takaya had "cornered" them and their dogs. This made people wonder if Takaya was safe around humans. Wildlife officers closed the park for several months to check if the wolf was a danger. Cheryl Alexander said she had never seen Takaya act aggressively. She thought the campers might have misunderstood his behavior.

Alexander worried that this event could put Takaya's future on the islands at risk. However, in May 2017, officials confirmed that Takaya was just curious, not aggressive. The park was reopened for day use only. They reminded visitors that dogs and other pets were not allowed on the island.

Leaving the Islands

Takaya continued to live and hunt on the islands until January 2020. He suddenly left for reasons no one knows for sure. Alexander thought he might have been swept away while swimming. Or, he might have left to find a mate. He was next seen walking in the James Bay area of Victoria. Wildlife officers caught him there. They moved him to a wild area on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

A month later, in late February 2020, Alexander heard from a woman who thought she saw Takaya near Port Renfrew. Later, a farmer in the same area sent her a photo of a wolf. She confirmed it was Takaya. She worried he would be in danger now that he was back near people.

On March 24, 2020, a hunter shot and killed Takaya near Shawnigan Lake. This was about 50 kilometers from where he had been released.

Takaya's Lasting Impact

Art Inspired by Takaya

Takaya's story was shown in the documentary Takaya: Lone Wolf on channels like CBC and BBC. After the film came out, many people created artwork to honor Takaya. They sent their art to Cheryl Alexander, often with messages about how Takaya's story touched them. An international art festival for Takaya was held in Victoria in October 2020.

Memorial Mural

After Takaya's death, a local artist named Paul Archer and his friends went to Discovery Island. They painted a large portrait of the wolf on an old foghorn building. This was a place where Takaya used to sit. The Chief of the Songhees Nation, Rob Sam, approved the mural. He thanked the artists for their tribute to Takaya.

Driftwood Sculpture

Artist Tanya Bub created a five-foot-tall sculpture of Takaya. It weighed 150 pounds and was made from over 1000 pieces of driftwood, shells, and kelp. Tanya and Cheryl Alexander collected these materials from Discovery Island. This sculpture was shown in the lobby of the Empress Hotel in Victoria.

Marble Sculpture

In 2020, someone who wished to remain anonymous paid for a sculpture of Takaya. Artist Kent Laforme carved it from a huge 25,000-pound block of island marble. This sculpture might be placed at Cattle Point in Oak Bay. This spot overlooks the islands where Takaya once lived.

The sculpture has a round hole in it. This hole acts as a lookout point and a sound tunnel. Visitors can howl through it to honor Takaya. On October 5, 2023, the Takaya stone was officially revealed at Cattle Point. Members of the Songhees Nation and artist Kent Laforme were there. A small group of people and Songhees members celebrated with drummers.

Campaigns for Wolves

After Takaya died, two local groups started using his story. They wanted to stop the recreational killing of wolves in British Columbia. Pacific Wild asked people to "Take Action for Takaya." They created a petition called "Save B.C. Wolves." More than 500,000 people have signed it.

Learning from Takaya

Takaya's story has also been used by teachers. It helps them create lessons about wolves and their role in nature. Takaya inspired LiveIt, an online education company. They developed a program about wolves for children in Grades 2 to 6.