The Audubon Zoo has announced that four maned wolf puppies were born on Jan. 31. Zoo officials say these are the first maned wolves born at Audubon Zoo on record and the first offspring of wolves Brisa and Sheldon, who arrived at the zoo in August 2021. “Brisa is doing extremely well as a first-time mother,” Audubon Zoo’s Vice President and General Curator Bob Lessnau said in a statement. “She is being extremely attentive to her pups and is nursing well. Sheldon is also stepping up to the plate of fatherhood and has been keeping a close eye on the pups.” Brisa came to Audubon from Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute as part of an Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan recommendation to breed with Sheldon, who came from Sunset Zoo. According to Audubon, Species Survival Plans are collaborative conservation efforts among AZA-accredited institutions that recommend breeding based on genetic compatibility. The average gestation period for maned wolves is between 63 and 67 days. Maned wolves are native to grasslands and scrub forests of South America. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, they are considered a near-threatened species. Audubon says their greatest threat to survival is human-wildlife conflict and habitat destruction due to the clearing of land for agriculture and development. The family resides in the South American Boardwalk section of the zoo and is currently bonding. Audubon says there may be times in the upcoming weeks when guests can catch a glimpse of the family, but currently, animal care staff are closely monitoring Brisa and Sheldon’s comfort levels. Additional barricades have been added in front of their habitat to further distance guests.
The Audubon Zoo has announced that four maned wolf puppies were born on Jan. 31.
Zoo officials say these are the first maned wolves born at Audubon Zoo on record and the first offspring of wolves Brisa and Sheldon, who arrived at the zoo in August 2021.
“Brisa is doing extremely well as a first-time mother,” Audubon Zoo’s Vice President and General Curator Bob Lessnau said in a statement. “She is being extremely attentive to her pups and is nursing well. Sheldon is also stepping up to the plate of fatherhood and has been keeping a close eye on the pups.”
Brisa came to Audubon from Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute as part of an Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan recommendation to breed with Sheldon, who came from Sunset Zoo.
According to Audubon, Species Survival Plans are collaborative conservation efforts among AZA-accredited institutions that recommend breeding based on genetic compatibility.
The average gestation period for maned wolves is between 63 and 67 days.
Maned wolves are native to grasslands and scrub forests of South America. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, they are considered a near-threatened species. Audubon says their greatest threat to survival is human-wildlife conflict and habitat destruction due to the clearing of land for agriculture and development.
The family resides in the South American Boardwalk section of the zoo and is currently bonding. Audubon says there may be times in the upcoming weeks when guests can catch a glimpse of the family, but currently, animal care staff are closely monitoring Brisa and Sheldon’s comfort levels. Additional barricades have been added in front of their habitat to further distance guests.
