ASHEBORO — The second largest population of American red wolves under human care is at the N.C. Zoo.
There are 18 American red wolves living at the zoo’s off-site breeding area, in addition to the two that are visible to guests. Three pups were born April 18 as part of the park’s American red wolf breeding program. Additionally, one of the animal care specialists, Chris Lasher, is the vice coordinator for the Species Survival Plan for American red wolves.
Zoo officials on Tuesday issued a response to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee’s urging a halt to the endangered red wolf program:
“American red wolves were once common throughout the southeastern United States, but were driven to near extinction during the late 1960s. Now, they are only found in the wild in mostly eastern North Carolina. The American red wolf is the most endangered canid in the world and is the only wolf indigenous to the United States.
“The N.C. Zoo plays a key role in its survival. The zoo has been actively involved in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP) for more than 24 years and has partnered with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the American red wolf from extinction.
“The N.C. Zoo is a conservation organization, and our mission is to protect wildlife and wild places, both locally and globally. We believe it is our responsibility to look after endangered species, such as the American red wolf.
“According to the AZA’s Species Survival Plan, limiting the American red wolves to Federal lands in one county is not a sustainable plan. (One of the proposed changes is limiting wolves to federal land in Dare County alone instead of the largely private land they now roam in five counties.) We all need to work together to find a way to protect the iconic American red wolf from extinction while minimizing the impact on landowners.
“Your zoo is committed to saving the American red wolf, a native North Carolina species and the most endangered wolf in the world. We will continue to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to save the American red wolf.
“Please consider supporting the N.C. Zoo’s efforts to save the America red wolf by visiting www.nczoo.com/give/save-a-species/support-red-wolf-conservation.”