View Full Version : Kid got wolfed down
10 year old Turkish boy was eaten by a wolf - his father found the body.
Interesting, wonder if the attack was prevoked?
Do we blame the wolf? Personally I'd say no, but I'd like to hear more details if anyone finds them.
:biggthump in advance.
Tantalus
29-11-2004, 16:02
where did you get the story Gary?
Tant
Nightfall
29-11-2004, 16:10
Me too. Never heard of wolves bothering people before unless the story was written by the Brothers Grim. But most of the fairy tales dealing with wolves seem to have been written to give them a bad name. Would a wolf go after someone if they were hurt bad enough? The person that is. Or could it have been the wolf was old or sick and couldnt hunt other prey?
I'd guess probably the latter. The only reports I've read of wolf attacks have been bitches defending cubs, or where people had provoked the attack.
NickBristol
29-11-2004, 16:43
Might just be that the poor kids was in the wrong place near the wrong wolf at the wrong time? It's not implausible that a hungry wolf could see a small boy as a fairly low-risk meal.
How likely is it that a 10-year old would or could provoke a wolf? Not sure I'd have had the cojones to do it at 10. At 16 then definitely I'd have had a go :naughty:
It came over on a radio news bulletin today.
As you all know I have a interest in wolves and I heard no more since the news bulletin so wondered if anyone else had more info.
I suspected a rabied wolf but without more details its hard to guess.
Nothing on BBC or Ananova about it...
C_Claycomb
29-11-2004, 17:04
Just for general interest, if you haven't met this site before:
http://www.wolftrust.org.uk/a-wkp1-intro.html
Seems a pretty good investigation into wolf attacks on people.
Tantalus
29-11-2004, 17:06
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,6119,2-10-1462_1628383,00.html
one wolf? this is odd in itself
i suspect a dog is more likey to have approached a human
Tant
(thanx to google news search :) )
Here's something I found on the net;
News 24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,6119,2-10-1462_1628383,00.html)
Starving wolf kills kid
29/11/2004 11:55 - (SA)
Ankara - A wolf driven by hunger killed a Turkish boy in a small town in central Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reported Monday, quoting local officials.
Ten-year-old Onur Bahar was found dead by his father in a field near their house in the outskirts of Talas on Sunday afternoon; the wolf had gone for the boy's throat and torn his left arm off, the agency said.
Provincial governor Ekrem Calik told Anatolia that the prints at the site showed the boy had been attacked by a wolf which descended on the town, probably because of hunger.
The beast might have been drawn to the neighbourhood by the smell of bones dumped outside a nearby supermarket, he said.
Martin
tenbears10
29-11-2004, 17:12
Turkish sheep farmers have some very serious sheep dogs to protect the flock from wolves so there must be some worry about attacks but if this transfers to attacking children as well I'm not sure.
http://img99.exs.cx/img99/4760/kangal.png
I've seen them with 4 inch nails sticking out of their collar to prevent wolves attacking their neck. You have got to be worried about something to need those 2.
Bill
Paganwolf
29-11-2004, 20:16
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,6119,2-10-1462_1628383,00.html
one wolf? this is odd in itself
i suspect a dog is more likey to have approached a human
Tant
(thanx to google news search :) )
Im with Tant here, the size of the dog in the pick there is what you would be dealing with, these are powerful dogs and are quite capable of tearing a childs arm off, my bull mastiff is of comparitable size and if she went awol no adult male would be able to hold her off she weighs in at around 9 stone and has awesome strength, lone wolves are few and a pack which is what would have more likely attacked the child would have torn him to peaces. Many rogue stray dogs roam around Turkey and a wolf would have a much better chance of gaining a meal than a wild dog, so who is more likely to be hungry :?:
ChrisKavanaugh
29-11-2004, 20:55
Wolf attacks are extremely rare, often poorly documented and often apocryphal. I never feared Wolves in Alaska. The Coyote has rapidly expanded into the wolve's former ranges, including Washington D.C. There have been documented killings of young children by Coyotes. These animals are much like us. They are infinitely adaptable and come in a multitude of individual personalities. The Alpha wolf could not survive without a pack with Betas and the poor Zeta. Do they have a bad reputation from our own fears and self interests? Yes, but the flipside are people who romanticise wolves, Whales and Bald Eagles into something equally untrue to fit some anthropomorphised world view. These creatures are niether. Now a disease bearing mosquito is something infinitly more dangerous.
C_Claycomb
29-11-2004, 21:56
According to the link I posted, the cases of children in India being attacked was to do with natural prey being driven out, or killed off, and the limited stock being well guarded...and children being somewhat less well guarded.
Not saying that it wasn't a dog.
bambodoggy
30-11-2004, 13:58
I haven't a clue what happened here but things are rarely as straight forward as the press would have us think.
I tend to go with Gary's possible theory that it was most likely a rabid wolf.
Other than that wolves don't attack humans very often but.....they are opportunistic and if an older hungry wolf came across a small boy, maybe he's twisted his ankle or something, then the wolf would be tempted to take an easy meal. Likewise a dog may have killed the boy and the wolf just took an easy meal as wolves do rather like carrion.
Doubt we'll ever know for sure but one thing I can be fairly sure of is that if we traced it back enough it's bound to be MAN's interferance at some point.
I seem to recall reading somewhere that part of the problem in Europe is when Wolves and feral dogs interbreed. Apparently it does not happen very often, buts its thought that when it does, the offspring don't have the same fear of man as 100% wolves do. As aleady mentioned, rabbies can also result in strange behavior.
As we are relying on about 17th hand news reports from journalists whom very often would not know the difference between my Border Terrier and a Wolf, I doubt we will ever get the facts in this case...
Regards,
Pete
greg2935
16-12-2004, 09:36
I remember a similar case in Zimbabwe where it was claimed a young boy had been taken by jackals (these are dog like in appearance, and fear man in a similar manner to wolves), it turned out the boy had been killed by his uncle, the jackals, being scavengers, ate him. They usually go for the throat and stomach first as those are the easiet parts of he body to get into! If my memory serves me right, there was also something like that in Aussie with a mother blaming a death on dongos/dingos whatever you call them. I can't remember properly now, but I think the mother killed the baby in that case as well
Greg
Greg,
In the case of the woman in Australia, she was intially convicted but cleared at a later date. I believe they actually made a film about it..
Regards,
Pete
ChrisKavanaugh
16-12-2004, 18:40
Members of canidae will interbreed under population stress. While wolves always kill coyotes, there is one known specimen of a cross. Over here we have the infamous 'coy-dog' cross. For some reason Collies are the most common documented cross ( I always thought Lassie was a hussy and fraud, especially when I learned she was a male actor and there were dozens :shock: .) These animals are extremely dangerous. I've learned that any coyote sporting any unusual or bright pelage or heavier body structure is probably a coydog and to be avoided or destroyed ASAP. In the end they are wild animals and to be respected. We have managed to breed much more dangerous monstrosities anyway. The splendid pitbull was once the most popular breed in america. Now they a very dangerous animal due to selective breeding for illegal fighting. Again, we put our own anthropomorphic values on a world that never got the word. I knew the late Timothy Treadwell. He imposed his own view on bears. Many people who also care about bears were very concerned about the false message he was sending out. Tim and his girlfriend found out rather abruptly the truth.
simonsays
17-12-2004, 08:09
Greg,
In the case of the woman in Australia, she was intially convicted but cleared at a later date. I believe they actually made a film about it..
Regards,
Pete
'Picnic at hanging rock'
Cheers,
Simon
I was stationed in Warminster Wiltshire when that little girl who was killed by her step dad went missing back in 98' - anyway the army helped the police search. When her body was found it was actually in a badgers set and had partly been eaten.
Now no-one would have said the badgers (and we know they didnt) did it but it is easy to see how a wolf, or any other large predator, in a similar situation could easily cop the blame!
Makes you wonder!
Gary,
Thats a good point. Another case was that British woman who was murdered while on hoilday in Kenya a few years back. The Kenyan authorities said she had been taken by a lion, but he father, an ex policeman did not believe them.
It took him quite a while and a lot of pressure to get the case re investiated properly, but eventually one or more Kenyan Game wardensfrom the park where she was killed were convicted.
Regards,
Pete
bambodoggy
17-12-2004, 14:34
Good old Humans hey!!!! Not only are we doing our level best to use up all the animals habitats.....we're also now blaming them for crimes committed by us (collectively, I'm not saying anyone here is a criminal).....
Humans...don't you just love us! mmmmooooooowwwwww!!!!! :boot:
And it's not just a modern thing either. Anyone remember the story of Beddgelert?
bambodoggy
17-12-2004, 15:11
Nope....do tell? ? ?
And it's not just a modern thing either. Anyone remember the story of Beddgelert?
I used to get really cross whenever I heard that story - how can you think ill of your faithful hound?
Course, now I'm a dad I reckon Llewelyn should be locked up for leaving his nipper home alone - I mean, what would the social think if I left my kids at home with the cat looking after them :?: Just cos I'm not a prince :roll:
Wasnt the wolf the baddie there though? :?:
bambodoggy
17-12-2004, 15:22
Oh somebody tell me this story or post me a link....you're all chating and I don't know what you're talking about...... :cry2:
So far I've managed to work out it has a dog, a cat, a welsh prince and maybe a wolf along with a small boy!!!!
Ok, are we sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...
I can't remember the exact story but it ran along the lines of...
A Welsh prince went out hunting or carousing, can't remember which, and left his son alone in his crib (no maids, no mother) with his faithful hound.
Several hours later he returns home to find the house a mess and his son missing from crib and his dog smothered in blood. Cue vengeful father cleavign dog in two with sword.
Hark! What's that sound? A baby crying? Said father then finds baby unhurt and a wolf torn to bits by the dog.
He then broke down in tears and commanded a monument to be built in the hounds honour.
(Fantastic camp site btw).
bambodoggy
17-12-2004, 15:27
Ahhhh, that's really sad....can't help thinking of my doggy now!!! Wish I hadn't asked! That'll teach me not to hassle people to tell me stories!!!
:cry2: :cry2: :cry2: :icon_cry: :icon_cry: :icon_cry:
Yeah it was a sad story, but it just goes to show the importance of not jumping to conclusions.
Which is just as important in bushcrafting...
"But look, the deer are eating without any problem so it must be safe...". Neenawneenaw...
"The water is absolutely gin clear. It's perfectly safe to drink". Guy doesn't check upstream to see dead sheep...
ChrisKavanaugh
17-12-2004, 19:55
Gee, I had to learn that story at my C of E private school instead of reading Spiderman comics :roll: At least he wasn't irish! The national hero Sedanta killed his future laird's guard dog and had to replace him for a year, sitting at the door in collar known as Cu'chullain :rolmao:
beach bum
17-12-2004, 20:45
Ok, are we sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...
I can't remember the exact story but it ran along the lines of...
A Welsh prince went out hunting or carousing, can't remember which, and left his son alone in his crib (no maids, no mother) with his faithful hound.
Several hours later he returns home to find the house a mess and his son missing from crib and his dog smothered in blood. Cue vengeful father cleavign dog in two with sword.
Hark! What's that sound? A baby crying? Said father then finds baby unhurt and a wolf torn to bits by the dog.
He then broke down in tears and commanded a monument to be built in the hounds honour.
(Fantastic camp site btw).
The dog's name was Gelert , there 's a rather large granite stone lying over his grave at Beddgelert, last time I related that story was to a lady on the beach at Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight she was accompanied by the biggest Wolfhound I've ever seen, one of the favourite stories of my childhood :super:
Its a nice story but its a Victorian fabrication that was meant to draw tourists to the area.....
OK we have talked about animals having the rough end of the stick with man, what about the other way around...
Ever heard of the Champawat Man Eater?
This was a man eating tiger which account for 436 known human kills in Nepal and India over several years before it was killed by Jim Corbett in around 1907 :shock: :shock:
Regards,
Pete
Paganwolf
17-12-2004, 22:02
Humans :?: Deer :?: if tigers could talk (yes i know Tony the tiger can :roll: ) and you showed one a picture of a human and a deer its answer would be "Food"
But this one obviously prefered Indian takeways to venison! :o): :o):
Paganwolf
17-12-2004, 23:25
Shear Khanage i bet :wink:
10 year old Turkish boy was eaten by a wolf - his father found the body.
Interesting, wonder if the attack was prevoked?
Do we blame the wolf? Personally I'd say no, but I'd like to hear more details if anyone finds them.
:biggthump in advance.
I'm amazed there are any wolves left in Turkey. I went there years ago on an exped, up in the Taurus Mountains, and the locals had effectively exterminated anything other than there own animals (cattle, sheep) - it didn't matter whether it flew or ran, it was all fair game as far as they were concerned.