Alexandria Zoo announces significant birth

Alexandria Zoological Park is proud to announce the birth of three female maned wolves. This is the first successful birth of maned wolves at the Alexandria Zoo. The pups were born November 27, 2009 to the Zoo's resident maned wolves, Baxio (male) and Estrela (female).

Baxio has been at the Alexandria Zoo since 1999 when he arrived with his brother, marking the beginning of Alexandria Zoo's participation in the Maned Wolf Species Survival Plan program. After initially being a holding facility for the two males, the zoo was granted a companion for Baxio and his brother was sent to another institution.

While early pairings were unsuccessful, the arrival of Estrela brought renewed expectations. Baxio and Estrela are one of 20 pairs recommended for breeding by the maned wolf SSP program. Estrela gave birth to five healthy pups on November 27. However, the next morning one was found deceased, and by the afternoon, only three remained. Rather than risk the health of the remaining pups, staff made the decision to remove them from the exhibit. The three pups are being hand-reared and are in excellent health.

The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is a member of the Canidae family, and is native to South America. Often referred to as a fox on stilts, the maned wolf is characterized by its thick red coat, long black legs, and large ears. This mammal has an omnivorous diet that includes small mammals, birds, foliage, fruit and insects.

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