Trio of Rare Wolf Pups Born at the Great Plains Zoo

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Trio of Rare Wolf Pups Born at the Great Plains Zoo

May 24, 2012

The Great Plains Zoo in South Dakota announced the birth of three rare Red Wolf pups. There are only about 100 Red Wolves left in the entire wild population! Four-year-old mom Ayasha gave birth to a litter of three pups last month - two females and a male. They weighed less than a pound at birth and fit into the palm of a zookeeper’s hand. The zoo’s animal care staff monitored the birth through video
cameras and continues to observe the new family.

“These are important births to our zoo and to the survival of the entire Red Wolf population,” said Elizabeth A. Whealy, President and CEO of the Great Plains Zoo. “Red Wolves are one of the world’s most endangered animals. These pups are important ambassadors for their species, and are helping to shine a light on the plight of these vanishing animals.”

Just like human newborns, the pups will spend much of their time sleeping, eating and settling in with their mother. The pups are expected to be on exhibit, viewable by the public, in the next few weeks. The pups father Tamaska can be seen daily in the Red Wolf exhibit.

Photo Credit: Great Plains Zoo

Read more about Red Wolf Pups below the jump:

Red Wolves were once common throughout the eastern and south central United States, but by the early 1900s, Red Wolf populations had fallen victim to predator control programs and habitat destruction. In 1967, they were designated as an endangered species, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launching efforts to conserve Red Wolves a few years later. Today, about 100 Red Wolves roam their native habitats in eastern North Carolina. The Great Plains Zoo is a key breeder contributing to the success of Red Wolves; it now holds five of 200 Red Wolves in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) flagship conservation program, the Species Survival Plan.

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