achieved in collaboration with the
boxes for the optimum comfort of
Maned Wolf Species Survival Plan
the soon-to-be wolf family.
(SSP) nutritionist Dr. Cheryl Morris
On February 14, 2017, Valen-
and local Rudy Green’s Doggy Cui-
tine’s Day, two female maned wolf
sine TM creator and President Karla
pups were born. They were the first
Haas. Special custom-made whole
pups born at the Louisville Zoo in
food recipes were developed by
10 year s.
these renowned professionals in the
You may have witnessed Sadie
field using human grade meats and
carrying the pups in her mouth to
vegetables.
move them around the exhibit
The Louisville Zoo began
during this time. The pups
The
experimenting with the
have now become more
results
custom formulated
mobile and are often
diet in September
seen in the evening
were so
2016 and both
with mom and dad
successful that
wolves were gradu-
patrolling the yard
ally transitioned
their own
maned wolf keeper with
onto it. The new
four paws.
Sam Clites said other Though maned
diet, in conjunc-
tion with recom-
wolves are gener-
Zoos are already
mended nutrition-
ally solitary, dur-
reaching out to
al supplements by
ing the breeding
Dr. Morris, resulted
season they come
get information together
in improvements in
in semi-
on “Sadie’s
overall health. The
monogamous pairs.
results were so suc-
Sadie will nurse the
Stew."
cessful that maned wolf
pups until approximately
keeper Sam Clites said other
four months of age and both
Zoos are already reaching out to get parents will regurgitate food to
information on “Sadie’s Stew.”
the pups to assist with the transi-
With the improvements in health
tion from milk to solid foods. You
for both adult wolves, a success-
can now see the family together
ful pairing followed. During the
in their large shady exhibit across
pregnancy, insulated wooden boxes from the MetaZoo Amphitheater.
were added to the center of the
Next time you visit, be sure to stop
maned wolf exhibit for Sadie to den and observe these beautiful one-
with the pups. She had five "nest-
of-a-kind creatures and experience
ing sites" to choose from. Clites
the wonders of a healthy wolf
said Zoo Carpenter Ron Putman did family at play.
an amazing job building the nest
Father: Rocko
Michael Clevenger,
Courier-Journal
Maned Wolves
A Threat or Just Threatened?
Much like our native wolves,
the maned wolf is misunder-
stood and widely persecuted. In
the past, farmers believed that
maned wolves were killing their
poultry and livestock and the
wolves were hunted and killed.
However, the maned wolves'
small teeth and jaws make it dif-
ficult for them to kill large prey.
Half of their diet is fruit supple-
mented with small mammals,
birds, reptiles, insects, nuts, eggs
and grass — yet they are often
blamed for the deaths of live-
stock and other animals because
of their intimidating size.
The IUCN Red List of Threat-
ened Species lists the maned
wolf as "near threatened" with
approximately 17,000 adults re-
maining in their native range of
South America particularly Bra-
zil, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia,
Peru and Uruguay. The main
threats are the drastic reduc-
tion of habitat, especially due to
conversion to agricultural land.
Many maned wolves are killed
on roads. Further threats include
domestic dogs that chase, at-
tack and pass on disease to the
wolves and human persecu-
tion due to livestock losses and
cultural beliefs. Maned wolves
are protected by law in parts of
their range, but enforcing these
laws is often difficult. You can
learn more about efforts for
maned wolfs at Facebook.com/
ManedWolfSSP.
Mother: Sadie
Louisville Zoo Trunkline • Summer 2017 • 5