Red Wolves Reach New Milestone in Conservation Efforts: A Story of Survival and Genetic Diversity

In North Carolina, the Museum of Life and Science is thrilled to announce the arrival of a new litter of critically endangered red wolf pups. The seven pups, born to Oak, a 5-year-old female at the museum, and Adeyha, who arrived from a zoo in Illinois, are hailed as a beacon of hope for the species and a significant milestone in conservation efforts. With fewer than 300 red wolves remaining in zoos and the wild, breeding programs like this one are essential for maintaining genetic diversity through the Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program.

Sherry Samuels, the senior director of Animal Care at the museum, expressed her excitement about the new pups and their importance for the survival of the species. As part of the Red Wolf SAFE program, the museum plays a crucial role in protecting and preserving the red wolf population.

The pups were born on April 21st and are expected to start emerging from their den in late May. Red wolves are known to be reserved around crowds and loud noises, so visitors are encouraged to be patient and observe them quietly. Oak was born in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2019 but has been at the museum since 2022 while Adeyha arrived from a zoo in Illinois earlier this year. Red wolves were once found throughout North America but now only exist in small populations due to habitat loss and hunting. Visitors can purchase tickets to see these newborns as well as explore other indoor science exhibits and animal attractions at lifeandscience.org.

The birth of these new pups marks an important step forward in efforts to save this critically endangered species from extinction.