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- red wolf
Five red wolves born in the wild
It’s the second year in a row the Milltail Pack has produced new pups
Five red wolf pups were born in the wild in April. The pups were born in the coastal region of North Carolina, marking the second year in a row the endangered species has seen pups born from the same pair of wolves. In addition to the new pups—three females and two males—the Red Wolf Recovery Program added a male pup born at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, to be cross fostered in the same litter.
Last year saw five new pups born in the wild—the first red wolves (Canis rufus) to be born in the wild since 2018. The new additions bring the Milltail Pack in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge to 13 wolves.
“A cause for joy and celebration in 2023, much like we experienced in 2022 – every generation yields a newborn hope for recovery of the Red Wolf!” the Red Wolf Recovery program wrote on Facebook.
Biologists estimate 23 to 25 red wolves are in the wild. Another 278 are in a captive breeding program to help restore the wolves to the wild.
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Header Image: Five new red wolf pups were born in the Milltail Pack in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. Credit: Red Wolf Recovery Program.
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