Two broods of endangered red wolf puppies born

Critically endangered Red Wolf pups born at North Carolina Zoo

by: Storyful, Mekaela Muck

Posted: May 15, 2023 / 01:49 PM EDT

The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro celebrated the arrival of “not one but TWO litters” of the world’s most endangered wolf – the red wolf – in late April and early May.

A total of nine pups were born – three to parents Marsh and Roan, and six to Denali and May – the zoo announced on May 9.

Both litters were born as part of the American Red Wolf SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) Program, the zoo said. As all the puppies were potential candidates for release to the wild, they were being “housed in a private area to reduce their acclimation to humans” in order to give them “the best chance for survival in the wild,” according to the zoo.

The footage here shows the litter of six puppies receiving a 24-hour checkup to ensure they are healthy and hydrated, the zoo said. “They are checked for heart murmurs and a cleft palate to ensure they have the suckle reflex so they can nurse properly,” staff wrote. “Each pup is weighed, sexed, and identified by its white blaze chest patch. The veterinary staff checks the litters every two weeks to ensure everyone remains healthy,” they continued.

Video here:

https://www.wnct.com/have-you-seen-this/critically-endangered-red-wolf-pups-born-at-north-carolina-zoo/

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Two broods of endangered red wolf puppies have been born in a zoo in North Carolina, much to the delight of staff and visitors.

BY JESS THOMSON ON 5/15/23 AT 12:09 PM EDT

The North Carolina Zoo shared pictures and videos of the newborns on Facebook and Instagram in a post on May 9.

"We are thrilled to announce that we have had not one but TWO litters of critically endangered red wolf pups born at the North Carolina Zoo! The first litter, born to parents Marsh and Roan, has three pups, and the second litter, born to Denali and May, has six, for a total of 9 pups!" read the post's caption.

Red wolves are native to North America, and in terms of size and stature they are somewhere between gray wolves and coyotes. They measure around 53.5 to 65 inches long and weigh between 44 and 85 pounds, depending on sex.

Named for their characteristic reddish fur, these wolves originally roamed between Pennsylvania and the Midwest and Central Texas. However, in the past hundred years, their populations have crashed spectacularly, causing the wolves to now be classified as "critically endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List.

https://www.newsweek.com/red-wolves-critically-endangered-pups-1800402

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More about the wolves from the NC Wildlife Federation here:
https://ncwf.org/wildlife/red-wolves/