Reece: Editorials

Reece High School, Tasmania

Editorial Page

Relationship with Human Beings
Communication
Editorials

Relationship with Human Beings

The phrase, ''A dog's a man's best friend," definitely excludes the wolf. Actually wolves and humans are enemies. Many years ago, wolves used to kill human beings constantly, but not nearly as often as we killed them. We have killed so many wolves that they are reaching extinction. If a human approached a wolf, the wolf would most likely run away, feeling extremely frightened. However, if the wolf decided to attack the human, the wolf would usually win, unless the human had a gun or some other instrument to protect himself.

Communication

Wolves communicate with other wolves by howling. There are several types of howls. One is a happy, social howl used when wolves 'chat' with each other. Another is a warning howl, to alert other wolves that they are in danger. Howls can be heard over a distance of fifty square miles. A silent period always follows after a long round of howls. Like dogs, wolves whimper, growl, and bark. The low throaty sound of the growl says ''beware'' or ''get out of my way!'' Wolves bark, according to animal experts, either to sound an alarm or to challenge an intruder on their territory.

Editorials

Dear Editor,
Being an animal lover, I feel that wolves should be able to live their lives in peace. Every year, hundreds of wolves are killed especially for meat and fur, which I think is appalling. It will not be long until wolves will be extinct. Many stories, movies and so on, give the wolf a bad character, so people believe that the wolf does all of these dreadful things. The ''real wolf'' is a fine, noble animal which deserves to keep its rightful place in the animal kingdom. Okay, some people have lost their lives after being attacked by a wolf but not without a good reason. I'm sure that wolves would be much friendlier if we treated them properly, unlike the way we do today. Wolves very rarely kill fit, strong animals, but choose the sick, injured or old as their prey. Without wolves, our earth would be flooded with rabbits and mice which are pests and carry diseases.

Unfortunately, they also kill expensive animals such as sheep, goats which man grows for his own benefit. Wolves are like all other carnivorous animals, they must kill to live. We should provide them with food, care for them and treat them when they are ill. Not kill them!!

I have approached a few wolves in my life-time, all of which were friendly. To be quite honest, I think they are more frightened of us then we are of them. They deserve an opportunity to live their lives without having to defend themselves from man.

I ask every-body to please leave them alone. They are living animals and should be treated like other members of the animal kingdom.

Yours sincerely,
Kellie

Dear Editor,
Wolves are a menace to society and should all be destroyed. They're vicious animals and would kill anything. Last year, I went to the Yukon in Alaska. I took my dog hunting and while we were going through tundra, along came a pack of wolves and attacked my dog. I was lucky to just get away before they turned on me. My dog died which is proof that they're dangerous. My dog didn't do any thing to provoke them. Some people believe that we should repopulate the world with wolves, but then other animalswould be wiped out because of their predatory habits. In particular danger would be to animals already near extinction that live near those areas. I hope that many more people believe as I do and that it will not be long before all wolves are destroyed.

Yours sincerely,
Leigh

To The Editor,
People say wolves are a menace, but they help to sustain the life cycle of many animals. Yes, they might attack someone, but that person was most likely on a wolf's marked out territory,or they were doing some thing to offend the wolf. Wolves have been hunted in many different climates and ways. Don't you think that it's about time wolves had a fair go? I do.

Lee

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