Wolf Science Center, Science center in Ernstbrunn, Austria
The Wolf Science Center is a research facility near Ernstbrunn dedicated to studying how wolves and dogs behave and interact in social groups. The installation operates with small groups of animals observed in conditions that closely resemble their natural environment.
The center started in 2008 with young wolves and moved to its current location in 2009. Since 2017, it has partnered with the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, becoming an established research institution.
The facility demonstrates how closely wolves and dogs are related through direct observation of their behaviors and social habits. Visitors can see firsthand how domestication has shaped the way these animals interact with each other and their environment.
The center sits inside the public Wildpark Ernstbrunn, near Ernstbrunn Castle in Lower Austria, so entry goes through the wildlife park. Visitor programmes run there and explain the animals and the research; background videos are posted on the center's Patreon page. The wolves and dogs live in enclosures of 2,500 to 10,000 m², and the animals are walked on leash and collar.
The centre keeps North American grey wolves and mixed-breed dogs in separate packs, in enclosures of 2,500 to 10,000 square metres. Every animal is trained to accept a leash and collar, so walks outside the enclosure are part of its routine. Medical training lets staff examine the animals without sedation.
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