Mongolian wolf licks the face of German wolf researcher Freund at Wolfspark Werner Freund in Merzig
Wolf researcher Werner Freund is surrounded by Mongolian wolves in an enclosure at Wolfspark Werner Freund, in Merzig in the German province of Saarland January 24, 2013. Freund, 79, a former German paratrooper, established the wolf sanctuary in 1972 and has raised more than 70 animals over the last 40 years. The wolves, acquired as cubs from zoos or animal parks, were mostly hand-reared. Spread over 25 acres, Wolfspark is currently home to 29 wolves forming six packs from European, Siberian, Canadian, Arctic and Mongolian regions. Werner has to behave as the wolf alpha male of the pack to earn the other wolves respect and to be accepted. Picture taken January 24, 2013. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner (GERMANY - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)