Standing almost shoulder to shoulder, Tarik the wolf dog locks eyes with TV presenter and naturalist Steve Backshall as they rehearse for an exclusive show at Longleat. The scene is set against the backdrop of the world-famous Safari Park, where the roar of a lion can be heard in the distance.
As the 45kg, five-year-old wolf dog jumps up to match the 6ft tall Steve, the two share a moment that encapsulates the bond between human and animal. Steve’s familiar grin crinkles his brown eyes as Tarik, with his piercing yellow gaze, eagerly grabs a treat, displaying his gleaming white teeth.
Tarik, part of The Wolves of Wiltshire, throws back his head and howls on command, quickly joined by the grey wolf pack that prowls daily in the park’s wolf wood. “Tarik is awesome; he looks utterly terrifying and when you hear him howl so close to you, it is something really special,” said Steve. “There is going to be almost no-one in the audience who has experienced that before and the hackles will rise on the back of people’s necks.”
Steve has spent the last two days rehearsing with Longleat’s keepers for the shows, which start tomorrow – Saturday 25 May – and continue through Sunday 2 June. “I love doing live shows,” he said. “There is nothing else that gives me the chance to talk face to face with people and inspire them about nature.”
It has been 10 years since Steve last appeared at Longleat, and he is still contacted by people who visited then. “The shows I did previously at Longleat were one of the highlights of my career. I still get emails and messages from people who tell me that was the event which inspired them to work with nature, to be a zookeeper or study for a biology degree, and I’m so looking forward to this series,” he added.
In addition to his work with Tarik, Steve will also be joined by other animals and birds of prey, adding even more excitement to the live shows.
Shows can be booked with day tickets for an additional £1, with the proceeds going to TUSK, a UK-based charity dedicated to protecting over 40 threatened species across Africa. Tickets are still available to book at www.longleat.co.uk.
Tarik from Wolves of Wiltshire with Steve Backshall – photos from Tom Anders/Longleat
