Wolf escape: Torak 'was let out deliberately' before running harmlessly through field of sheep, says keeper

A wolf has escaped from a wildlife sanctuary near a school in Berkshire

Police were called at 8am on Thursday with reports from a member of the public that the animal had escaped from the UK Wolf Conservation Trust in Reading.

The wolf, called Torak, was captured early in the afternoon and is on its way back to the sanctuary.

Teresa Palmer, 62, who founded the park, helped to encourage the 12-year-old animal into a trailer around eight miles away from the park.

She said: “The fact he went through a field of sheep on his way shows he would never be a threat to the public.”

Nearby residents suggested high winds overnight had damaged a fence, allowing the animal to escape.

But Ms Palmer said she believed Torak may have been let out intentionally. She said: “When I got to the front of the enclosure I found that the gate was open. I think somebody deliberately opened the gate.

“A lot of people don’t particularly believe in having animals in captivity.”

The names of the sanctuary’s other nine wolves are Mai, Tala, Tundra, Nuka, Mosi, Motomo, Pukak, Massak and Sikko.

Thames Valley Police had warned the public not to approach the wolf.