If you love animals, get ready: two maned wolf cubs are the newest attraction at São Paulo Zoo! The animals were born in May and are already being visited by the public, always under the watchful eye of their mother wolf. So how about taking the weekend to meet them in person?
As well as being cute, the pups represent a milestone for maned wolf conservation. After all, the species is at risk of extinction and reproduction outside the wild doesn’t occur very often, making their birth at Zoo São Paulo almost a small miracle.
Maned wolf cubs are already receiving visitors in São Paulo!
The animals were born to a very special couple: daddy Caju and mommy Pitanga. They came into the world on May 17 and underwent intense monitoring by veterinarians and biologists from the São Paulo Zoo, who assessed their health and ensured their well-being.
But now, the maned wolf cubs – one female and one male – are already in a visitor area at the zoo, ready to delight visitors. The siblings are in the company of their mother, who will now protect them and teach them the essential behaviors of the species.
Why is the birth of maned wolves such a celebration?
The maned wolf is the largest canid in South America and a symbol of the Brazilian Cerrado. But unfortunately, this imposing animal is at risk of extinction, suffering from the deforestation of its natural habitat and being run over on highways, for example.
Some zoos and sanctuaries rescue animals to help conserve the species. Even so, human-supervised reproduction is quite rare, so the birth of the pups at São Paulo Zoo is a victory for the future of the maned wolf, which has resisted all odds.
