There are only 86 maned wolves in captivity in the U.S. so the news of the pups’ birth is momentous for the Natural Science Center and for the zoo world.



As a regular visitor when I was a young child, high school intern and now board member of our Natural Science Center in Greensboro, NC, I was able to get a sneak peek at the three adorable and endangered maned wolf puppies, born on February 6, 2011 in a completely green, solar and sustainable exhibit.

There are only 86 maned wolves in captivity in the U.S. so the news of the pups’ birth is momentous for the Natural Science Center and for the zoo world as only nine maned wolf pups were born, and survived in the U.S. in 2009.  The NSC’s pups are the first to be born in a mixed species habitat (the wolves share the exhibit with a giant anteater), and to first-time parents, Lana and Nazca.

With support from the Jean and Taylor Brooks Family and Duke Energy Solar Solutions, a state-of-the-art exhibit and holding area was built in 2008.  The habitat is a half-acre exhibit simulating a South American grassland habitat. The walls, windows, fence and viewing deck of their exhibit were made from recycled or salvaged material. Solar panels generate electricity and hot water.

Maned wolves are an endangered member of the canine family and are from South America. They resemble large foxes and are very beautiful animals. The AZA Maned Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP®) was impressed with the NSC exhibit and decided to send two sister wolves to start so that the staff could gain experience with the species before participating in the breeding program. The sisters' genes are currently more represented in the captive population than other maned wolves' so the SSP® then decided to swap them with a young breeding pair. In the fall 2009, Lana arrived from White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee, FL. and Nazca arrived from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute at Front Royal, VA.

NSC Zookeeper and Maned Wolf Specialist, Kim Clark, who has led the breeding program, has also documented the journey on The Maned Wolf Family blog.   Aside from following the story of the 2010/2011 Reproductive Season for Lana & Nazca, it also provides information on the conservation program and about maned wolves as a species.

And for a big “AWWWWW”, check out the video to see the pups in action.

The Natural Science Center is also proud to be the host of the first International Gibbon & Husbandry Conference in June 2012.

For more green living info check out Jeanne’s site, TheGreenSamaritan, and connect with her here on Twitter and Facebook.