TAKAYA*

All photos copyright: Cheryl Alexander

Takaya, arguably the most famous Canadian wolf, has inspired and impacted people around the globe. His story gives a very rare, in-depth glimpse into a lone wolf … just living his wild life.

In 2012, Takaya appeared on a small, uninhabited island archipelago just off the shores of the city of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. He had crossed the suburbs of the city and then swam across a frigid and often treacherous channel to the islands where he lived alone for eight years. A highly unusual, extremely rare event.

Local authorities said he couldn’t survive on such a small group of islands (total land area of 1.9 square kilometres). There were no deer, elk, or other small land mammals to hunt. No year-round source of fresh water. And no other wolves nearby. Yet here he decided to stay, much to the shock of wolf scientists and government authorities. Experts said he might be a danger, as he was close to the city and there was a public park on the islands. They tried to trap him twice, and failed. They debated shooting him. Yet somehow, against the odds, the wolf found a way to survive and thrive there for eight years, demonstrating remarkable resilience, adaptability and ingenuity.

Takaya became a true sea wolf, living almost exclusively on marine resources (primarily seals, river otters, mink, water fowl and goose eggs), swimming daily and patrolling the shores of his isles. Sea wolves are often referred to as an example of an ‘evolving species’. Their populations have developed different survival strategies and skills from the inland grey / timber wolves, and use marine resources quite extensively.
For eight years this wolf lived peacefully alongside his human neighbours, in very close proximity to Victoria, a city of nearly half a million people. He could look out from his lands and see houses, cars and boats passing by. And he could hear the city noises - sirens, construction, traffic, music and dogs barking. With his excellent sense of smell he would have also been familiar with the scents of the human world.

One of the most unusual and poignant aspects of his life in the islands was that for eight years he lived alone and remained without a mate. Wolves are very social, family animals and so his solitary existence was highly unusual. His lonely howls were often heard by people in the nearby city areas when the wind and seas were still. It seemed, that for eight years, this lone wolf still hoped for a female to join him.

For six years, conservation photographer and naturalist Cheryl Alexander observed and documented Takaya’s life. She says that when she first saw him in 2014 “he howled, looked directly into my eyes and changed my life. His strange situation captured my curiosity, and soon, my heart.” For herself, she eventually named this wolf Takaya, which means ‘wolf’ in the language of the indigenous Coast Salish people, and ‘respectful one’ in Japanese. Her practice of the Japanese art of Aikido early in her life emphasized the importance of respect for others, for all life. Over time, Takaya began to trust and accept her presence. He learned that she was not a threat to him. The wolf bestowed upon this woman a rare gift – the ability to observe a lone wolf just living his life in the wild.

Eventually, she produced a documentary about the wolf, entitled “Takaya: Lone Wolf,” which premiered on CBC’s Nature of Things in October 2019. The documentary was subsequently broadcast on BBC in the United Kingdom and on ARTE in continental Europe. The film has won many awards and been featured in international film festivals, receiving widespread critical acclaim. Cheryl also published a bestselling book about Takaya’s life (Takaya: Lone Wolf) in September 2020, followed by two children’s books in 2021 (Good Morning Takaya and Takaya’s Journey).

Then, in January 2020, for reasons unknown, Takaya left his islands after eight years and swam to the city’s shore. Without any incident or aggression, he wandered the streets and sidewalks of Victoria for two days – seeming to be seeking a way out. On his second day in the city, he was captured. He should have been taken back to his island home. Instead, without proper consultation, the Conservation authorities chose to relocate Takaya to a highly inappropriate wilderness area on the west coast of Vancouver Island – an area with active trophy and recreational hunting, traplines, in the midst of other wolf pack territories, and with primarily large prey like deer and elk that are difficult for an elderly, lone wolf to catch.

Yet, in spite of the challenges, Takaya thrived for two months in this unfamiliar territory. He survived once-in-a-millenial floods and an accident that resulted in 10 broken ribs, from which he was recovering. He had adapted to hunting a new kind of prey - beaver. He’d avoided traplines and hunters in the hills. He had found a way to move safely in between two other wolf pack territories. And he appeared to be trying to make his way back to his familiar home territory.

Then tragedy struck!

He had travelled 50 kms towards his home when he was shot to death by a cougar hunter. It would be easy to solely blame this individual hunter for Takaya’s death – and they are not blameless. But, in reality, the blame for the death of Takaya – and thousands of wolves like him – lies with the cultural attitudes and policies that informed the hunter’s choice to pull the trigger. It lies with our fractured relationship with the wild and the animals who live there. One news article proclaimed that “Takaya would become Canada’s ‘Cecil the Lion’.

His death sparked outrage and deep sorrow among the global community that had gathered around him. Takaya’s story had touched people around the world. There was something about his presence and bearing, his beauty and independence and elemental wildness, that deeply moved people. He was our connection to the wilderness and to our sense of isolation and aloneness – especially during the pandemic years.

Takaya has inspired artists to create artwork, music, poems, and political campaigns to protect wolves in B.C. and beyond, honouring the life and legacy of a most remarkable wolf.

To date, three International Arts Festivals have been held in honour of Takaya, showcasing hundreds of pieces of art and song. Takaya’s Legacy Project was established in order to celebrate Takaya, to share his story with a global community, and to showcase the stunning and diverse collection of tributes that have been created in his honour. This organization extends Takaya’s legacy by raising funds to support organizations that preserve wild spaces, protect wild creatures, and to bring an end to the recreational and government-mandated killing of wolves.