The Wolfman (Friday 18 May, 8pm on Five) is the unique story of Shaun Ellis, a man who has given up everything to take a dangerous and unorthodox approach to learning about wolves. Behind the secure fences of a Wildlife Park in North Devon, Shaun Ellis has overcome one of man’s greatest fears and joined a pack of wolves. Here he lives and breathes as a wolf; communicating with them in a language of howls , snarls and forceful licks and feeding with them from carcasses of meat.

At first glance, Shaun Ellis looks like an average rugged man. Wearing a fleece and muddy trainers, his long hair is tangled, and his face weathered and scruffy. But while he may speak with a west country, British accent, he can readily shift to menacing growls or howls, fiercely flashing his teeth or licking the muzzles of his North American timber wolf family.

This one-off special documents one man’s incredible journey to learn more about the complex nature of wolf society in order to help protect wild wolves. Shaun Ellis dedicated much of his early life to studying wolves, but seized the opportunity to immerse himself in a pack after a captive wolf abandoned her litter of pups. Shaun took an atypical role as wolf teacher, determined to instruct his three wolves, Yana, Tamaska and Matsi by example in the skills they needed to fend for themselves in the wild.

The Wolfman details Shaun’s hands-on approach to the wolf pups’ care and education as together in the wolf enclosure he teaches them discipline, communication and hunting techniques. By immersing himself in their world, Shaun has become known as their accepted leader and developed the ability to defend himself and the pack from other wolves through howls and snarls.

The programme follows every step of the wolves’ incredible upbringing, from their first howling lesson and eating meat from Shaun’s mouth, to their growing independence and aggression. Along the way, Shaun explains the correct howls used to keep rival packs away and the meal time competition over a fresh kill. He must ensure he keeps his top-ranking meals of liver and that his scent matches theirs at all times to be accepted within the pack. However, as the wolves grow into adulthood, they begin to challenge him for the role as leader of the pack. This is a testing time for Shaun as soon his position at top of the pack may change.

During filming, Shaun receives a video from a Polish farmer of dead calves killed by a pack of wolves, creeping onto his farm at night. The farmer has tried using physical deterrents such as fences and guard dogs, but this has not stopped the hungry wolves looking for an easy meal. Unless Shaun can help, the farmer’s livelihood is in jeopardy and the wolves may be shot. Shaun is the farmer’s last hope and we follow his preparations to travel out to Poland and face his biggest challenge yet, to save a pack of wolves from the bullet. But will he be able to do it?

Shaun’s life has completely changed since living with wolves. As he takes on a wolf’s persona, his body is also transforming and he is becoming more like a wolf. Everyday is a hard battle for survival and Shaun has sacrificed everything, losing his family, home and financial security as a result but he truly believes that what he is doing will make a difference. The Wolfman offers an intimate portrait of wolves and the man who has gone to amazing lengths to understand and protect them.