Balto’s story is one of America’s most captivating real hits and demonstrates how capable dogs are to do amazing things.The story was so popular that Balto’s adventure became a film in 1995, which tells its story.
In Animal Expert we tell you the true story of Balto, the wolf dog who became a hero You can’t miss the whole story!
- Balto was a dog mixed with a Siberian husky born in Nome.
- A small Alaskan town.
- In 1923.
- This breed.
- Originating in Russia.
- Was introduced to the United States in 1905 to work in mushing (sport where dogs sled).
- Because they were stronger and lighter than the malamutes of Alaska.
- The dogs typical of this area.
At that time, the All-Alaska Sweepstakes race was very popular and ran from Nome to Candle, which corresponded to 657 kilometers, not counting the return. Balto’s future tutor, Leonhad Seppala, was an experienced mushing coach who participated in several races. and contests.
In 1925, when temperatures hovered around -30 degrees Celsius, the town of Nome was attacked by diphtheria, a very serious bacterial disease that can become fatal and usually affects children. There was no diphtheria vaccine in this city and it was by telegram.that the inhabitants were able to find where to find more vaccines, the closest they could find was in the village of Anchorage, 856.17 kilometers away, unfortunately it was not possible to reach by air or sea, as they were in the midst of a winter storm that prevented the use of roads.
Faced with the impossibility of receiving the necessary vaccines, some 20 residents of the town of Nome agreed to undertake a dangerous route, for which they would use more than 100 sled dogs, managing to transfer the team from Anchorage to Nenana, the town closest to Nome, at 778.74 kilometers.
The 20 guides built a relay system that allowed the transfer of vaccines. One of the most prominent was Gunner Kaassen, the B-team guide in which Balto, the wolfdog, was. During this impromptu race, they all endured temperatures of around -40ºC. degrees Celsius, strong winds, icy roads and really difficult mountain areas. Under these conditions, many humans and dogs died trying to save Nome’s children.
There are several theories about what happened to the last group of dogs, guided by Gunner, some pointing to the that it was Balto who took the dogs to the end (although it was not a guide dog), others claim that the guide dog could not drive alone and the latest theories suggest that the guide dog broke a leg.The truth is that it was Balto who led the race, despite the little faith that most people had in it.
In just five and a half days the B team arrived in Nome with the diphtheria vaccine, some believe that this may be because this dog is a hybrid wolf, because it was not normal for a dog that had never been a guide. before leading everyone else. Whatever the reason, the truth is that Balto knew how to find his way and in much less time than expected.
Unfortunately, Balto was sold, like other dogs, to the Cleveland Zoo in Ohio, where he lived until the age of 14, died on March 14, 1933, the dog was embalmed and today his body can be found at the Cleveland Museum.Natural History.
Since then, every March the Iditarod dog race is held, which runs from Anchorage to Nome, in memory of the story of Balto, the wolf dog turned hero, as well as all the others who participated in this dangerous race..
The media impact of Balto’s story was so great that they erected a statue in Central Park, New York, sold by Frederick Roth and dedicated exclusively to this four-legged hero, who saved the lives of many of Nome’s children.
Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the snow dogs who managed to transport the antitoxin across nearly a thousand kilometers of crushed ice, treacherous water and arctic snowstorms in Nenana to bring relief to the desolate people of Nome during the winter of 1925.
Resistance – Loyalty – Intelligence “
If you liked this story, you’re probably also interested in the story of the Super Cat who saved a newborn in Russia.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Curiosities section of the animal world.