NEW Zoo of Brown County, WI

Red Wolf Tamaska

Tamaska, a six year old male Red Wolf who recently arrived here from the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, SD, is ready to meet the public. Tamaska spent a month in quarantine to ensure that he is healthy and ready to meet his new mate. After a day of getting to know each other through the safety of fencing, Tamaska joined Laurel in the exhibit yard earlier this week. The introduction went very smoothly and the two wolves seem to be getting along extremely well. Their first night together appears to have been very cozy - they emerged together from one of several small nest boxes in the morning! We hope that the pair will produce a litter of pups in the spring. So far, it seems as if the wolves approve of these plans! Tamaska is the darker wolf in the photo. The dark stripes on his forelegs are good identifying characteristics.

The Northeastern Wisconsin Zoo is one of several AZA zoos which has partnered with the US Fish and Wildlife Department to ensure the survival of this critically endangered species. Once common throughout eastern and south central United States, the wild red wolf population is limited to parts of North Carolina. Only about 100 red wolves remain in the wild, but the recovery program is bolstering the population. The AZA Species Survival Program for red wolves is involved in not only captive breeding, but also reintroductions of wolves into the wild.

Published: January 22nd, 2013