A man who lives alongside wolves as one of their pack fears they could all be put down – after a council refused planning permission for his new reserve.
Dedicated Shaun Ellis – known as ”The Wolfman” – lives with the wolves in their enclosure at the sanctuary in Come Martin, Devon.
Shaun, 48, has spent 27 years working with the same creatures – even spending nights sleeping in their enclosure with them.
He used to care for the wolves at Combe Martin Wildlife Park but 18 months ago rehomed them at his nearby Newberry Farm.
Officials at North Devon Council originally said no planning permission was required for changes to use to his land.
But following a complaint from a neighbour the council said a retrospective planning application was needed – which has now been declined.
Shaun says the decision could leave the animals homeless and fears with no home they would have to be put down.
He said: ”The wildlife park had to be a bit more commercial and we wanted to go down the educational route. We wanted slightly different things.
”The wolves are like family to me and to have to put them down would ruin my life. We would never find a home for them. We tried before and you just cannot do it.
”We would love to give local people the opportunity to come up, book a day with us and find out what we are doing.
”When you see what they are about I think people will have a completely different outlook.
”We want a damn good reason for them to turn this down. I do not see sense in all the arguments they put forward.”
An application was handed to the council in April but was turned down at the end of October.
The council stated three reasons why the planning application had been turned down.
The first was that the site lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and does not preserve or enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding environment.
Secondly, the council believes the site will cause noise nuisance to surrounding houses.
It also said the volume of traffic entering the site will increase, causing a potential danger.
Dawn Fletcher, who deals with the farm’s marketing, said the decision was made by one planning officer.
Shaun says he now has one of two options – to appeal the council’s refusal or submit a new planning application.
To support Shaun’s campaign to save the centre visit www.thewolfcentre.co.uk/page/
There are centres in America that specialise and have scientific knowledge and zoological qualifications that would welcome these wolfs and re-introduce them into the wild. At the wolf centre they learn nothing of being wild at all, and to keep them captive is cruel anyway. I cant see how this centre is making enough money and my fears are confirmed with Sean’s OWN WORDS that he wanted to go down a more ‘commercal’ root – how is this putting the best interests of the wolfs first? I’m sorry, but humanity dictates these wolfs should be relocated to where there needs will be prioritised over sentiment of, ”The wolves are like family to me and to have to put them down would ruin my life ….” A selfish statement from a man who conducts his life meeting all his own needs at the expense of many others .. there is nothing ‘native american’ about that, which he claims to believe in. Native American RESPECT the earth and creatures on it and always put their ‘communities’ first – this man is self indulgent and short sighted and should give up this lifestyle and focus on attending to his own families needs and let he wolfs be free of him.
Anonymous i understand what you mean but these wolves have lived with him ever since they were pups. the man loves the wolves and the wolves love him. i understand that you think its selfish to keep them in captivity but they love him and deserve to stay with him if they want. He is not selfish when he says the wolves mean everything to him and having them put down would make him sad it would make me very sad so i disagree with your comment anonymous i love wolves just like him and disagree with you.