Connecting rural and urban perspectives through volunteering

The WikiWolves initiative was founded to provide animal owners with practical support and manpower helping them to protect their animals in the future. The association wins volunteers and brings them to places where farmers need help to better protect their sheep, goats and other grazing animals. The idea behind it is simple: the livestock owners get direct support and the volunteers can learn more about the practice of livestock protection, shepherding and the behaviour and management of wolves in Germany.

At the end of the day and after a lot of hard work at least a part of the fixed fence is installed. Everyone looks tired but happy:

"The shepherds are very grateful. When you leave the farm in the evening, you can see it in their faces how happy they are about the practical support.”

The Wikiwolves' experiences with the volunteers are very positive. With their approach they could already win hundreds of city dwellers who are interested in wolves and want to learn about the challenges that livestock owners face. On the spot they get a better understanding of the concerns of the rural population and at the same time can provide direct help. The shepherds are happy about the active support and the interest in their daily work. This leads to a constructive exchange between two groups that usually would never meet and helps to create common ground for coexistence.