Torak the wolf captured after escaping from Berkshire wildlife sanctuary

A wolf which sparked a police search after escaping from a wildlife sanctuary in Berkshire has been captured.

The wolf - whose name is Torak - was found eight miles (13km) from the park after going through a field of sheep.

Local schools were placed on lockdown following his escape and police urged the public not to approach him.

The 12-year-old animal was finally encouraged back into his trailer after around five hours on the loose before being taken back to his home.

He escaped from the Conversation Trust sanctuary in Beenham, near Reading, early this morning after heavy winds blew down a fence in his enclosure.

Sanctuary founder, Teresa Palmer, 62, who helped lure him back, said: "The fact he went through a field of sheep on his way shows he would never be a threat to the public."

On hearing of his capture, wildlife film maker and presenter Anneka Svenska, who helped to raise Torak, said he "is gentle and timid and would never have been a threat".

She also said security at the trust was "exceptional", adding "they must not be blamed for bad weather".

Police confirmed that Torak - who is one of the sanctuary's largest wolves and described by his keepers as a "gentle giant" - was captured unharmed by officers and sanctuary staff.

Officers would not confirm how he escaped.

They also thanked locals for their patience during the wolf hunt, and said that schools no longer needed to keep their pupils indoors.

Sian Champkin, whose husband works at Elstree Independent Boys' Preparatory School in nearby Woolhampton, said he had called her to warn her not to go outside.

The 37-year-old, who lives about a mile from the sanctuary, said: "I was slightly shocked, nothing like this has ever happened before."

On hearing that the wolf was on the loose, local Beenham Primary School tweeted: "We love having the wolf sanctuary as neighbours and hope this beautiful creature is returned safely soon."

All 73 pupils at the school - which has an image of a wolf as its emblem - were put into lockdown while the search took place.

Torak, who is half North American and half European, lives at the sanctuary with his female partner Mosi.

Having been filmed for education projects in the past, he is said to "enjoy being in the limelight".

His sanctuary profile also says he is "apprehensive of crowds of people" and that now he is older "if something upsets him, he will simply take himself out of the situation".

His bio notes that "his favourite foods are pheasant, deer, meaty ice lollies and bananas" and "he can carry a 4kg ostrich egg with his powerful jaws".

The sanctuary was established in 1995, and homes 10 Arctic and northwestern wolves, living in four packs.