A TEENAGER is preparing to trek through the Russian wilderness to save the country's wolf population - and she is calling for your help.

Nineteen-year-old student Denise Caldwell, from Barrington Drive, Middlewich, is working towards a degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Chester. In April, she and course-mate Geoff Griggs will spend six weeks tracking wolves in a Russian nature reserve 170km from Moscow.

She explained: 'We have to do some work experience as part of the course and we are going to a nature reserve in the Tver Oblast region to track and study the behaviour of wild wolves.'

And the second-year student hopes her work will make a difference to local attitudes. She said: 'At the moment, the Russian Government is offering a bounty for catching and killing wolves in Tver Oblast, because local people think they kill livestock. But we are going to be part of an expedition to prove it isn't them, as it seems likely it could be wild dogs.'

The wolf is an important figure in Russian mythology and folklore, but has come under increasing pressure in Russia over the last century with some experts warning that the Russian wolf may be hunted to extinction.

Denise said: 'We want to do what we can to ensure wolves aren't over hunted. We saw this project on the Eco-Volunteer website and made our minds up straight away.'

But before even seeing a wolf, the pair will have to travel on foot through a foreign country renowned for harsh conditions. Denise acknowledged the challenges they will face: 'When we get there, we'll be able to stay at the research centre, but once we get into the country we'll be fending for ourselves, camping out in the reserve while we track the wolves.

'The place has very limited funds, so we will have to work hard if we're going to find out how they behave in their natural environment.'

Denise added: 'We hope to raise money to buy radio tracking collars for the wolves.

'We've been given a quote of between £300 and £700, depending on which collars we choose. We're hoping to raise about £1,000.'

The pair plan to break their preparatory fitness training with a sponsored swim of a mile.

To sponsor the pair or make a donation, call Denise Caldwell on 07976 908766.