Wolfschanze

Wolf Park (Wilczy Park), which operated from 1974 to 2016 as a field research station of the Poznań University of Life Sciences, was located in the hamlet of Papiernia in the Kończak Valley. It was established on the initiative of Professor Ryszard Graczyk and covered 32 hectares of fenced area. Its main objective was the protection of rare and endangered animal species, such as wolves, tarpans, black grouses, western capercaillies, and great bustards. The station played a significant role both ecologically and educationally, raising public awareness about the role of wolves in ecosystems. Notable achievements included the restoration of biodiversity in the region, including the recovery of the beaver population, and the implementation of modified bison breeding methods modeled after those in Białowieża, which proved highly successful. Wolf Park was open to visitors, who could observe wolves in enclosures, peacocks, and a historically reconstructed dovecote. The park is home to monumental oak trees, the largest of which have circumferences of 320 and 390 cm, as well as several pines known as the Stobnickie Babki. At the park gate, the educational trail "Doliną Kończaka" (Through the Kończak Valley) began, spanning 7.7 km and forming part of a broader network of nature and forest trails. After 2017, the area was sold to a private company, which began construction of a castle on an artificial island. The directors of Wolf Park were Professor Ryszard Graczyk and Professor Andrzej Bereszyński, and the facility gained recognition not only in Poland but also internationally for its research on wolves.