Red wolf pups at Miller Park Zoo
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[June 28, 2012]
BLOOMINGTON -- Miller Park Zoo is
celebrating another birth of rare red wolf puppies. The zoo's red
wolves, Kai and Bruiser, are again parents with a spring litter of
two new pups.
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Zoo superintendent Jay Tetzloff says Kai gave birth to one male pup
and one female pup earlier this spring. The pups are now emerging
from the den box and are visible in the red wolf habitat at the zoo.
"This is the third spring that Kai has delivered pups," Tetzloff
says. "This is a great success for the national Red Wolf Species
Survival Program."
"Red wolves are an endangered species," Tetzloff adds. "Through
our program at Miller Park Zoo we have been able to reintroduce some
animals to the wild."
The zoo has exhibited red wolves since 1993. Two years ago, the
pair produced a litter of pups that were the first red wolves born
since 1994.
In 1970 there were only 14 pure red wolves known to be alive in
the world. By 1980, those wolves had been removed from the wild to
establish a breeding program to restore the population. Now there
are approximately 179 red wolves in 40 institutions.
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Conservation and reintroduction programs not only help keep the
species from extinction, but also restore the ecosystems where the
wolves once lived. As predators, red wolves help to maintain the
balance and population of the different species they prey upon.
Sharp-eyed visitors will be able to view the pups in the zoo's
red wolf habitat. The zoo staff has planned special enrichment
activities for the wolves during Animal Enrichment Day on July 14,
from 1 to 3 p.m.
[Text from
Miller Park Zoo news release received from
Bloomington Parks and
Recreation] |