Jacques Bouillault with the wolves of Zoo de La Fleche

In this video of 1979 Jacques Bouillault decodes the behaviour of wolves in captivity. The video is part of an article in the magazine “Animals of the World,” broadcast in December 1979. This episode was dedicated to Jacques Bouillault, the founder of the Tertre Rouge Zoological Park in La Flèche (Sarthe). A zoologist with a passion for wildlife, from lions and baboons to elephants and pythons, he encountered and cared for all these animals daily in his zoo. A prime enclosure was reserved for the wolves, "his sweet little darlings," as he called them and whom he knew by name, like the shy "Virginia," a dominant female, "paired" with "the blue-eyed Spaniard." These wolves, his "children," seemed particularly friendly and attached to the specialist, giving him big hugs in front of the cameras. Jacques Bouillault appeared very comfortable in their enclosure, cuddling them back and showering them with kisses, but this apparent affection didn't mask his constant vigilance. For while the