The Wildwood Trust, near Herne Bay has confirmed the “heartbreaking” decision to euthanise its entire pack of five European grey wolves following a sudden and violent breakdown in the group’s social hierarchy. The pack, comprising dominant pair Odin and Nuna and their three offspring, Minimus, Tiberius, and Maximus, was put to sleep on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
A dangerous situation within the pack was reported to have escalated rapidly over the past month, with the Trust saying that the family unit devolved into severe infighting. Three of the five wolves sustained life-threatening injuries, with one animal reportedly showing early signs of sepsis. Despite consulting with international specialists, staff determined that the volatility within the enclosure made it impossible to safely provide medical treatment or separate the animals without causing further trauma.
It’s reported that Director General Paul Whitfield had described the decision as a last resort to prevent further suffering, noting that moving the wolves was unviable as it would likely trigger more conflict.
The Trust is currently conducting an internal review to determine whether it will continue to house the species in the future. The wolf enclosure now stands empty, and many in the local community are said to have expressed deep sadness over the loss of the pack whose howls were a long-standing fixture of the surrounding countryside.