The
“Maned”
Attraction
“What’s that momma?”
For those of you who have visited
the Maned Wolf exhibit at the Zoo
with your little ones, you have prob-
ably heard this question before. A
fi rst glance at our maned wolves
usually results in a double take. This
unique animal has a very different
appearance than the wolves we are
accustomed to seeing, and more
closely resembles a fox than a wolf.
Its unique characteristics and long
legs have earned it the nickname
“fox on stilts.”
The Louisville Zoo has two maned
wolves, Rocko and Sadie, both fi ve
years old. Rocko, the male, came
to us from Smithsonian Conserva-
tion Biology Institute in Front Royal,
Virginia during September of 2013.
Sadie, the female wolf, came from
Sunset Zoo in Manhattan, Kansas in
November of 2014. The hope was
that the two wolves would take a
Maned Wolf Cubs at 7 weeks.
liking to each other as part of the
Maned Wolf Species Survival Plan: a
cooperative breeding and conserva-
tion program to assist endangered
species and maintain the genetic
diversity of managed animal popu-
lations.
However, ensuring a success-
ful pairing took more than a bit
of hope and planned matchmak-
ing. The Louisville Zoo is continu-
ally seeking the very best methods
in nutrition, veterinary care, and
4 • Louisville Zoo Trunkline • Summer 2017
animal husbandry and consistently
monitors the health of the animals.
Sadie was underweight, had a poor
appetite and suboptimal stool qual-
ity. Following a thorough medical
evaluation and treatment plan, a
diet change was pursued to im-
prove food intake, body condition
and stool quality before a pairing
could be considered. Zoo keepers
and veterinary staff developed a
plan to optimize the health of both
adult wolves. This diet change was
Cubs and Father Rocko at 12 weeks, Michael Clevenger, Courier-Journal