Buzz·Posted on 11 Feb 2014Werner Freund, The Man Who Led His Own Wolf Pack, Has Died Aged 80He was so close to the animals that they would eat from his mouth. Spiegel Online reports that he has died after a short illness.by Alan WhiteBuzzFeed News Reporter, UKLinkFacebookPinterestTwitterMail Freund, a former German paratrooper, established a wolf sanctuary in 1972 and raised more than 70 animals over the last 40 years. Werner had to behave as the wolf alpha male of the pack to earn the other wolves respect and to be accepted. Warning This image is graphic Tap to reveal Click to reveal At feeding time, he had to ensure he fed first and would not allow any of the hungry wolves to come near. Warning This image is graphic Tap to reveal Click to reveal The EU regularly asked for his advice on wolf management in those countries where they are making a comeback. Warning This image is graphic Tap to reveal Click to reveal Werner said he was battling the myth of the "dangerous wolf." Warning This image is graphic Tap to reveal Click to reveal The wolves, acquired as cubs from zoos or animal parks, were mostly hand-reared. The sanctuary was home to six packs from European, Siberian, Canadian, Artic and Mongolian regions. He was born in Germany in 1933. He said he got his love of animals from his mother. In the 1950s he worked as a zoo assistant in Stuttgart. He then spent 20 years as a career soldier. He once said: "Wild wolves are rarely aggressive towards people. If there are attacks, they get big play in the press precisely because they are so rare." His wife was also a passionate supporter of animal welfare.