Shocking twist for rescuers who saved struggling 'dog' from frozen river
When construction workers near a frozen river in Estonia spotted what they believed to be a dog struggling in icy cold waters, they rushed to its aid.
The men managed to crack the ice to guide the dog to the bank and pulled the freezing animal to safety.
The canine was visibly weak and covered in ice, prompting the men to wrap it up in blankets as they tried to return some body heat.
However after bundling it in the back of their van to take to a vet, they soon realised it was a case of mistaken identity.
The clinic informed the men they had in fact pulled a wolf from the ice.
Staff believe the animal’s docile nature was due to its low blood pressure and took no risks by placing it in a cage fearing it may become more aggressive as its condition improved, the Estonian Union for the Protection of Animals (EUPA) said.
The organisation thanked the men for their selfless actions, believing it would have been only a matter of minutes for the wolf to succumb to the freezing water.
“We are so happy for the outcome of the story, and wish to thank all the participants – especially these men who rescued the wolf, and the doctors of the clinic who were not afraid to treat and nurture the wild animal,” EUPA said in a statement.
Following a day of rehabilitation, the wolf was fitted with a GPS tracker and was released back into the wild.
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