For most of us, it’s pretty unlikely that we will ever have any kind of interaction with a wolf. After all, unless they’ve been thoroughly acclimated, wolves are weary of humans. But for Andrey, it can be an everyday event. He lives with a beautiful black wolf named Akela, and they play together like he’s a puppy.
One of the videos Andrey posted of him hanging out with his wolf has gone viral, and it’s amazing to watch.
While they may be called “black wolves,” they are actually a darkly colored variant of the gray wolf species. They’re also fairly rare, as their coat color comes from a genetic mutation.
It’s uncommon for us to have many interactions with wolves, as they are generally weary of humans. So seeing something like this is absolutely surreal. But Akela has been with Andrey since he was a puppy, and they clearly have an incredible bond.
The viral video begins with a “selfie shot” of Andrey and the big, beautiful wolf. Akela, who looks straight at the camera, has gorgeous glowing eyes and a stunning dark coat. Then, Andrey’s “canine companion” gives him a nice long sniff and nips at his ear affectionately. He even puts his paws up on Andrey’s arms, climbs up onto his back, and bites and pulls at the hoodie he’s wearing.
Akela is affectionate and playful with his best friend. He continues to lick and nip at Andrey’s hood and face as the video continues. Again, he playfully hops on his back and showers his friend with “wolf affection.” Andrey gives him some scratches, and Akela continues to lick and ask for even more affection.
It’s incredibly endearing to watch but also a bit intimidating. Akela’s version of play is a bit like brotherly roughhousing, and he is quite a large wolf. Not everyone would be willing to tolerate his purely primal behavior. But wolves are pack animals, and it’s quite clear that Akela has accepted Andrey as part of his pack.
Andrey does his absolute best to take care of Akela. He even created a fundraiser so he could provide all of the proper accommodations and be certain that Akela is well cared for and comfortable.
You can check-out the amazing video below. And, for more incredible wolf content, you can follow Andrey on Instagram or subscribe to his YouTube channel.
Featured Image: YouTube
