A female red wolf has recently arrived at Zoo Knoxville in Tennessee. The 2-year old is expected to help the species recover further from near extinction.
According to 10News the two-year-old female red wolf will join two males currently living there. It is hoped she will be able to breed successfully.
After several rocky starts Zoo Knoxville as it is today was founded in 1971. Today, the zoo takes a serious position on species survival. According to the zoo, it has been successful in a number of areas
“Today, Knoxville Zoo is accredited by the national Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and has a few distinctions not shared by other zoos. More red pandas have been born in Knoxville than any other zoo in the world. Since the birth of Little Diamond, Knoxville Zoo has gone on to other firsts, including being the first zoo in the world to hatch critically endangered northern spider tortoises. Knoxville was also the first zoo in the world to successfully breed the second generation of captive-born Arakan forest turtles and common spider tortoises, an important contribution in the science of conservation.”
Little Diamond was an African elephant born at the zoo during one of its earliest incarnations.
Red wolves are highly endangered and have been the focus of breeding efforts since the 1960’s. At that that time the last survivors were captured to prevent extinction. They were put into protective custody and breeding programs. Puppies have been raised and then released in a remote section of North Carolina. But they have not expanded their range and remain critically endangered. There is also the problem interbreeding with coyotes which will dilute their gene pool. There may be as few as 13 left in the wild.
According to 10News:
“…Terry Cannon, a curator of mammals and carnivals (carnivores?) at the zoo (said)the new wolf will be the first unrelated female red wolf introduced to the zoo in several years.
“Now, we’ve brought in this new bloodline — female. She’s 2 years old, she came from North Carolina. North Carolina State University, actually was holding her and taking care of her, but now she’s been asked to be moved here for future breeding recommendation with one of our males,” he said. “Red wolves are very important. They are officially known as ‘America’s wolf.'”
“America’s wolf” is so called because it is native to the United States. There are probably fewer than 30 in the wild and about 300 in captivity. The female red wolf is part of a Species Survival Plan in which Zoo Knoxville participates.