A zoology doctoral researcher at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki has defended the decision not to rescue a white puppy that died after joining a wolf pack in Central Macedonia. Theodoros Kominos published a detailed explanation following a wave of public criticism, messages, and personal attacks over the animal's death.
Kominos, who administers the page Golden Jackal Canis aureus and Wolf Canis lupus in Greece, said the purpose of his statement was to explain wildlife fieldwork conditions rather than to apologize. He also condemned hostile reactions from individuals over the controversy.
Researchers were monitoring an entire wolf family with newborn cubs rather than focusing solely on the dog, according to Kominos. He said the responsibility of the research team was to protect the wild pack as a whole.
Wolf pack habitat in Central Macedonia
The wolf family inhabits an agricultural landscape in Central Macedonia rather than an isolated forest or protected area. The pack moves through cornfields, grain crops, sunflower fields, cotton fields, livestock farms, and private properties where people work daily.
Organizing a capture operation in farmland would require a large coordinated team, vehicles, a veterinarian, specialized equipment, and hours of searching. Kominos said such a search would expose the presence of the wolf family, which had previously managed to survive almost entirely undetected.
A large agricultural fire also broke out near the den site a few days before the puppy died. The presence of fire trucks, aircraft, helicopters, and dozens of emergency workers forced the wolves to leave the den and move deeper into farm fields.
Dense vegetation in the corn, sunflower, and cotton crops severely limited visibility, making any intervention dangerous. The family consisted of about nine wolves of varying ages and six newborns at the time. Kominos stated that responsible researchers do not create situations where humans confront a stressed wolf pack in dense crops.
Scientific monitoring and puppy health
Video footage recorded shortly before the puppy died was part of routine scientific monitoring. Kominos explained that researchers filmed the pack to document natural animal behavior between 4 and 7 in the morning, when the wolves returned from overnight foraging.
Researchers observed the puppy for about ten minutes on that day while focusing on the overall pack. Although the puppy appeared lethargic, wolf cubs in the pack were also sleeping for long periods, which the team attributed to extreme heat.
Marks visible on the back of the puppy were initially identified as residue from cattle manure. Farmers frequently dispose of manure in the area, and researchers had repeatedly filmed both the wolves and the puppy playing, rolling, and resting in it.
The team reviewed the footage more closely the following day and consulted a veterinarian. The veterinarian noted that the marks could indicate diarrhea, but researchers had lacked clear evidence to make that determination earlier.
Researchers returned to the area three days later without knowing what had happened to the puppy during that period. Kominos said viewers now watch the footage knowing the outcome, but the team had no way to predict the puppy's death while filming.
Agency involvement and rescue decision
In the weeks before its death, the puppy had started interacting with stray and semi-owned dogs feeding near dead livestock. Researchers had hoped the puppy would separate from the wolf pack naturally and rejoin local domestic dogs.
Attempting a capture on private farmland would have required intervention from public agencies, the Forestry Service, veterinary authorities, and the Greek Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency. Kominos said mobilizing multiple agencies to capture one sick domestic puppy was not justified.
The team evaluated whether rescuing one dog justified risking an entire wild wolf family with newborns, exposing their location, and endangering researchers and animals. Kominos concluded that the team decided against intervention, calling it the only responsible choice.
