Eight red wolves have been released into the wild in northern California, offering hope of reviving populations on the brink of extinction.
The red wolf is a critically endangered species found nowhere other than northern California, United States. They are now dispersed in wildlife refuges and private lands with a total population estimated at only 20 to 25, including 8 newly released individuals, including 4 juveniles and 4 adults.
These cubs were born to a couple of captive parents at the Akron Zoo in Ohio in May. When they were released, they were less than two weeks old and had not yet opened their eyes. It was extremely difficult work as the conservation team had to ensure that the cubs would be adopted by a wild individual.
To do this, they searched for a red-haired wolf who was also caring for her newborn cubs at the Pocosin Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Northeast Carolina and then attempted to keep the wolf cubs in captivity. Finally, when the mother wolf left the nest to feed, the conservation team carefully placed four captive cubs in her den and watched them.
Joe Madison, head of the North Carolina Red Wolf program, reports that soon after the mother wolf returned, she moved all of her cubs in the den – including four newly released captive cubs – to a new location. This is typical behavior when a mother wolf finds her nest disturbed and it is a good sign that all cubs have been adopted.
“The mother red wolf is very compassionate and dedicated,” said Madison. “This successful release will be very useful as it will not only increase the number of red wolves in the wild, but also increase the genetic diversity of the population, introducing new genes from captive-bred wolves.”
The North American red wolf (Canis rufus) is morphologically intermediate between the coyote and the gray wolf. Adults are 136-160cm tall and weigh 23-39kg. This species was once widely distributed throughout the Southeastern United States, but has been largely wiped out due to habitat loss and overhunting. In 1980, they were officially declared extinct in the wild, but were “re-wild” in 1987 after four captive breeding pairs were released to an alligator reserve in northeast Carolina. North.
