THE CHILLING sound of howling will echo around Longleat Safari Park this Hallowe'en, to help kick-start the wolves' breeding.

Wolf expert Shaun Ellis will descend on the estate at dusk for three nights every week, to encourage females in the Longleat pack to start mating.

The dominant female in the pack can no longer mate, and due to the wolves' strict hierarchical structure, only one dominant male and female in a pack are allowed to mate.

Mr Ellis is hosting the 'howl-in' sessions throughout October, during which he plays a tape of wild Canadian wolf packs mixed with his own howls, to make the Longleat pack believe their territory is under threat.

Longleat spokesman Jo Sparrow said: "As the pack start howling you feel the hair on the back of your neck start to stand up.