12 healthy, but endangered red wolf pups were born over a three-day period in the North Carolina ZOO.
According to the secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Reid Wilson, these are crucial births.
The animal family in the zoo there has become larger by a dozen, they add.
They were born as a part of the organization’s breeding program for red wolfs. The litters, consisting of 12 pups in total, were born between April 28th and April 30th.
A Real American Red Wolf Baby Boom Has Happened
These births are the first time that the breeding program welcomed three litters in one spring season. The wolf pups and their moms are doing well and are healthy, added the zoo.
Denali and Ayita are the names of the parents of the two female pups that arrived on April 28th. The parents of the four pups (two males and two females) that came on the April 30th are Taylor and Solo.
And, the parents of the other six pups (two males and four females) that also arrived on April 30th are Sassy and Flint.
It’s Crucial to Restore the Red Wolf Population
Wilson said in a statement that they congratulate the zoo for being so important in the survival of these pivotal species that are endangered.
Once mature enough, these wolves are moved to other breeding packs and help bring these species back from the almost-extinct status.
Reid added that they’re hopeful to place more red wolves into the wild soon. With these new additions, the number of red wolves that are currently in the breeding program is 36.
This facility actually has the second-largest pack in the country, after the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington.
15 to 20 red wolves are in the wild in eastern North Carolina.
This mammal is the most endangered canid globally. These new pups are most likely to ‘debut’ to the public in June when they’ll also travel outside their dens.
They’ll be moved to a non-public breeding areas once old enough.
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