Island artist paints mural in memory of lone wolf Takaya on Discovery Island

Island artist paints mural in memory of lone wolf Takaya on Discovery Island
Paul Archer
The mural of Takaya on Discovery Island, painted by Victoria artist Paul Archer

Takaya, the beloved lone wolf, now has a permanent memorial on Discovery Island, the place he once called home.

Paul Archer, an airbrush muralist, wanted to honour Takaya’s memory and knew exactly how to do it. The Victoria-based artist decided to paint a mural of the lone wolf on a building on Discovery Island.

“That building just screamed wanting that, him lying on the rock,” he said. “The rock was perfect coming off the side of the building, I saw the fog horns, I saw the fog horns on the building, and it clicked right there. We got to do this, we got to do this.”

Takaya was an 11-year-old wolf that became a part of local folklore eight years ago when he was spotted swimming and setting up a home, alone, on Discovery Island, capturing the hearts of many.

Takaya eventually left the Island and was captured in James Bay in Victoria in January of 2020 by BC Conservation Officers, and relocated to a remote part of Vancouver Island.

Unfortunately, a hunter shot and killed Takaya near Shawnigan Lake a few months later, approximately 50 kilometres away from where he was released.

Archer, who also painted a mural of George Floyd in downtown Victoria, said the Takaya mural took a day and a half to paint.

READ: Outrage and grief after Discovery Island wolf shot and killed by hunter

 

 

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