Camperdown Wildlife Centre renewed its renowned relationship with European wolves with the unveiling of two new animals.
Dundee’s prestigious wildlife centre has been synonymous with the animals for a number of years, with the last pair, Queenie and Sly, reaching the ripe old age of 14.
The park’s new generation of wolves, three-year-old female Aurora and four-year-old male Loki, arrived in Dundee on Tuesday.
Centre keepers believe the pair’s arrival is a significant day for both the park itself and for the city of Dundee.
Wolf keeper, Kellie Ross, explained: “Wolves have always been in Camperdown.
“I think they’re an animal which everyone can relate to in Dundee.
“The loss of Queenie and Sly was the end of an era because that was the end of a pack which went back generations.
“Just having them back again is a special day for us and hopefully a special day for the people of Dundee as well.”
Kellie believes breeding Aurora and Loki and adding to the diminishing population of European wolves could prove to be pivotal.
She said: “They both have wild generation in them and one of their grandparents was wild caught.
“It’s introducing new blood lines to the European wolf population in captivity, so they’re an important pair in that sense.
“Hopefully by breeding them we can sustain the population.”
Dundee Lord Provost and chair of Dundee Leisure and Culture Bob Duncan revealed he hoped the arrival of the pair would excite people throughout the city.
He said: “It’s fantastic that we have these animals here now because it was something we were missing in the park.
“Last year we brought the meerkats along and they were a great success, so we want to try and bring something new every year now.
“I think the kids will love it and I’m sure by the end of the week the wolves will be familiar and want to play up at the front of their enclosures.”
Female, Aurora, was born at the Highland Wildlife Park in 2013 and male, Loki, was born in the Netherlands in 2012.