Here are photos of the lone wolf, Takaya, which I captured just this past Sunday in the San Juan Valley near Port Renfrew. Tragically, Takaya was shot and killed Tuesday near Shawnigan Lake, making these likely the last images of him still alive. Takaya became famous after living alone on Discovery Island for the past eight years before recently swimming to Victoria where he was relocated by Conservation Officers to Port Renfrew.

The remaining old-growth forests of the San Juan Valley provide important habitat for wolves and many other large, charismatic creatures. Sadly, productive old-growth forests like those found in the San Juan, which once covered large swathes of Vancouver Island, have been reduced to a small fraction of their original extent. The need to protect the ancient forests in this valley has been a major focus of the Ancient Forest Alliance this year and will continue to be going forward.

Our thoughts go out to Takaya and all those who grew to love him dearly.