CONSERVATION FUND CCF is a Namibian non- profit incorporated association dedicated to the long-term survival of the cheetah and its ecosystems. RESEARCH eS a ate aT iT eRe) The cheetah, Acinonyxjubatus, is one of the oldest ofthe big cat species. with an- cestors that can be traced back more than five milion years to the Miocene era, The cheetah is also the world's fastest land mammal, a feline icon of nature. It is an animal built for speed, with all parts ofits body having evolved for precision and agility. From their small. aerodynamic head. lean body and long legs. to a ftexible backbone and tall that works like a boat's rudder, and semi-retractable claws lke cleats on a running ‘shoe, the cheetah can reach speeds of up to 70 mph and change direction in a split ‘second. The cheetah also has the ability to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just three seconds. CHEETAHS: BIG CATS BUILT FOR SPEED PHYSICAL TRAITS Cheetahs have a thin frame with a narrow waist and deep chest. They hhave extra-large nostrils that allow for increased oxygen intake, with larger than normal heart and lungs and strong arteries and adrenals that ‘workin tandem to circulate oxygen more efciontly. Their weight averages between 75 and 125 pounds and they ‘can be anywhere from 40 to 60 inches in length, measured from the head to the hind quarters. The tail can add another 240 32 inches. Most cheetahs stand 28 10 36 inches tall at the shoulder. Males are slightly bigger with larger heads, but thera is not much physical difference between the sexes. It's dificult to identify the cheetab's sex by ‘appearance alone. ‘The cheetah's undercoat ranges in color from light tan to a deep gold and Is marked by solid black spots. These spots are not open lke the rosettes found.on a leopard or jaguars coat. whichis one way to quickly identify the cheetah. Cheetahs are also recognized by their distinctive black ‘tear marks" that extend from the comers of both ‘eyes along the sides of their noses to their mouths. The biological purpose for these markings isto keep the glare of the sun down so cheetahs can see more clearly across long distances. Their tal ‘ends with a bushy tuft encircled by fve ‘or six dark rings. These markings provide thom with excellent camoutage while hunting and make them more dificult for other predators to detect. LUntike other big cats often grouped ‘with the cheetah (ie- tiger, lon, leopard and jaguar, cheetahs do not roar. They grow when facing danger. and they vocalize with sounds more equivalent to a high-pitched chirp or bubble and bark ‘when communicating with each otrer, ‘The cheetah can also purr while both inhaling and exhaling, which other big cats cannot ‘THE CHEETAH’S LIFE ‘There are three stages in the lifecycte of the cheetah: a cubis life, adolescence ‘and adult life. The gestation period for the cheetah is 93 days, and Utters range in size from one or two up to sh cubs Ithe occasional iter of eight cubs has been recorded, butitis rare) At birth the cubs weigh 85 to 1§ ounces and are blind and helpless, Their mother ‘willgroom them patiently purring Quietly and providing them warmth and security, After a day or so, the mother ‘will leave the cubs to hunt for herself, so she can continue to care far the cubs. Thisis the most vulnerable time for the cubs. as they are left unprotected. They will ve ina secluded nest for the next sixto eight weeks, being regularly ‘moved by their mother from nest to nest to avoid detection by predators. The ‘mother will care for her cubs on her own for the next year and a half ‘At about six weeks of age, the cubs ‘begin following their mother on her daily travels as she s looking for prey. During) these frst few months she cannot move far or fast and cub mortality is highest. Less than one in x0 will survive during this time. as they perish from predation by other large predators such as lions ‘and hyenas, of from injuries. Ths is the ‘time when life skils are taught. Their long mantle of hair on their backs serves the dual purpose of keeping them warm and helping hide them from predators ‘who mistake them for the aggressive honey badger, Between fourto six months of age, cheetah cubs are very active and playful. Trees provide good observation points and allow for development of‘kils in balancing, The cubs’ semi non-retvactable claws are ‘sharper at this age and help them grip the tall'playtrees' they ‘climb with their siblings Learning to hunt s the most critical survival skill that the cubs develop. Atone year of age, chestah cubs participate in ‘hunts with their mother. The hunt has several components, It includes prey detection. stalking, the chase, tipping or prey capture), and killing by means ofa suffocation bite, At about 38 months of age, the mother and cubs wil finally separate, ‘Although not fully adept at hunting on their own, independent male and female cubs will stick together fora few more ‘months to master their hunting skill. When the adolescent females begin cycling, dominant males will court ther anc drive their brothers away. MALE COALITIONS Male cheetahs from the sare liter remain together for the rest oftheir lives. forming a cheetah coalition. Coalitions increase hunting success anc defense against predators ‘They become dispersal males, on the move for a few years after leaving their mother and sisters, until they can defend a territory. They wil travel hundreds of miles, being movec ‘Out of one area to another. pushed by more dominant males. Eventually. they wil find a place where they can settle. Cheetahs require huge home range territory, covering an ‘average of 750 to 900 square miles. ‘Adult life for a cheetah is dificult. Cheetahs live fast and die ‘young, There is competition between territorial males, which ‘often results in death. The lifespan of an acult male is @ years, ‘Adult mortality is one of the most significant limiting factors for cheetah population growth and survival, (CHEETAH SURVIVAL Relatives of the modern cheetah had worldwide distribution Until about 20,000 years ago, when the worle's environment Lunclerwent drastic changes in the Great Ice Age, Throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, about 75 percent of the ‘mammal species vanished. Only a handful of the modern ‘cheetah remained, having gone through a “genetic bottleneck™ that resulted in inbreeding, which detrimentally impacts species survival. ‘Once found throughout Asia and Aftica, today there are fewer than 7100 adult and adolescent cheetahs in the wild, This ‘number has dropped from 100,000 2 century ago, indicating rapid deciine, Cheetahs are Usted as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In Namibia, they are a protected species. Under the Endangered Species Actin the United States, they are ‘considered Endangered. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) ists them as an Appendix 1 species. Most wild cheatahs exis in fragmented populations in pockets of Africa, occupying a mere g percent oftheir historic range. In Iran, less than 50 Asiatic cheetahs (a sub-species) romain. The largest single population of cheetahs occupies a she-courtry ‘polygon that spans Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Angola Mozambique and Zambia, Namibia has the largest number Of incividuals of any country. earing it the nickname, "The CChoetah Capital of the World” ‘More than 75 percent of remaining wild cheetahs live on rural farmlands alongside human communities, The small populations that live in national parks and wildlife reserves ‘must compete with larger. more aggressive predators, which can kill cheetah cubs anc often steal their prey, ‘Their main threats to survival include human-carnivore ccontict. loss of habitat and loss of prey, poaching and illegal ‘wildlife trafficking, with cubs being taken from the Horn of Africa and smuggled into the exotic pet trade, primarily in the Gulf States, Gieerencans Eaten ast oes eee EaCheetah Fast Facts Life span: 8-12 years in the wild, longer in captivity Females live alone except when raising cubs. Cheetah habitat is now only 25% of its former size. World's fastest land animal. Can go 0 to 60 miles an hour in 3 seconds Very nimble, can make quick or sudden tums at top speed Cheetahs hunt during the day with their keen eyesight, stealthy movement, and spotted coat that helps them blend into the tail grasses. Cheetahs need to drink only once every 3-4 days. Cheetahs capture their prey by stalking it until the prey is within10- 30 meters before chasing it and tripping it with their dewclaw. The cheetah them bites the underside of the prey’s neck to suffocate it. Chases usually last about 20 seconds, and are rarely longer than 1 minute. 50% of chases are successful. Groups of male cheetahs are called coalitions. Male cheetahs often stay with their brothers. A cheetahs tail is long, muscular, and flat shaped. It functions life a rudder to help control balance and steering during a chase. Cheetahs have a ‘tear mark’ that runs down their face to help reflect the glare of the sun while hunting during the day. Coat and skin has spots At full speed, their stride can be 25ft long. Their feet only touch the ground twice during each stride. Considered Africa’s most endangered cat; 7,000- 10,000 remaining 50%-75% of cubs die within the first months of life due to predators Cheetahs kill their prey in large open spaces and then drag it off to a secluded spot to keep predators from taking the food while the cheetah cools down from the chase. Cheetahs have an extra large heart, nostrils, and lungs to help process more oxygen while running Major threat use to be over hunting for fur; today it is loss of habitat, competition from large predators and farmers, and loss of genetic diversity. A cheetah’s body temperature can reach 105 degrees F when in the chase.Cheetah — Acinonyx jubatus Collection (1.0)Andie: June 15, 2007- Born at Wildlife Safari Inc. OR and came with his brother Frankie from the Pittsburgh Zoo when they retired from the breeding program April 24, 2018, Frankie passed away in 2020 to cancer. Status ¢ Vulnerable Threats ive cheetahs are caught and traded illegally to the pet trade and are also hunted for their skin. Habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict are also issues leading to the decline of this species. © The historic distribution of this species is very wide. But in the 1970s, European settlers saw these big cats as vermin to be eradicated, and populations were widely reduced. Currently, they only inhabit about 10 percent of their historic range. Their range occurs widely but is extremely sparse and fragmented in the regions they still inhabit. Conservation/Ask e Quick Facts Lifespan: 10 years for males, 14 for females, In human care up to 20 Size: 45 to 60 inches in length, tail- 23-32in, 26-37 in to the shoulder Weight: 45 to 160 Ibs Speed: 70 mph (1 minute intervals) Physical Description:Cheetehs are slim and have relatively long legs in relation to their body size when compared with other cats, with a small, rounded head and short ears. Their coat is pale yellow, gray, or fawn on the back, and is speckled with small, round, unarranged black spots throughout the body and set closely together. The underside is paler than the back, often white or a light tan.‘The fur is coarse to the touch with a slight mane of longer hair on the neck. Their faces are distinctly marked with a black lachrymal stripe from the inner eye alongside the length of the muzzle. The ears are small and rounded, with lightly colored inner fur in contrast to the posterior side, which has a black patch within the main back color of the individual. Their tails are spotted above with a background the main dorsal color of the individual, and the ventral surface is the same paler color as the main ventral color. The last third of the tail has a series of dark or black rings ending with a white tip. The front paws have four toes and a dewclaw, and the hind paws have four toes. The claws are slightly curved and blunted from contact with the ground, as cheetahs have weakly retractile claws with no protective skin folds. ¢ Sexual Dimorphism: Males typically larger Natural History: Habitat: ¢ Wide range of habitats—from dry forests and thick scrubs through grasslands and Sahara deserts. e Cheetahs are terrestrial, but have been known to climb trees on occasion Range: e The range of cheetahs was greatly reduced by the 1970s, and surveys conducted before 2005 indicate that the cheetah is present in 25 countries ‘on the African continent. They usually prey on small antelopes such as Thomson's gazelles and impalas but also hunt small mammals and birds. It gets as close to the prey as possible; then in a burst of speed, it tries to outrun its quarry. © Once the cat closes in, it knocks the prey to the ground with its paw and suffocates the animal with a bite to the neck. Once it has made a kill, it eats quickly and keeps an eye out for scavengers-lions, leopards, hyenas, vultures, and jackals will steal from this timid predator. * Unfortunately, the cheetah’s speed can't be maintained for more than a few hundred meters before the individual overheats. Behavior: The cheetah is a solitary animal. Males have been seen living in coalitions, where they appear extremely tolerant of close proximity to other males. The related members of the coalition will even take part in play and physical contact such as grooming, whereas the unrelated males will generally stick to themselves while remaining in the coalition. ¢ While uncommon, when members of a male coalition become separated, vocal calling (described as “yipps” and “chuffs") occurs for up to 20 minutes continuously until reunited with his partners. ¢ Females will also call to their cubs to locate them, especially if young cubs have wandered from their hidden lair. Scent marking, while not direct, is an important aspect of communication with cheetahs since they are predominantly asocial and females only meet other individuals when it is time to breed.Males mark the area that they defend with urine. In addition, males will also mark territory by raking the ground with their hind paws, claw at trees, flatten grass by rolling, or deposit feces on prominent land features. Territorial males are never classified in the adolescent age range. Resident males do leave their territories for brief lengths of time (a matter of days), presumably to seek out in-season females outside of their territory. Male coalitions commonly defend their territory from other males to facilitate access to females and prey, and often persist throughout the lifetime of the individuals in the coalition While uncommon, unrelated males are occasionally admitted into an existing group of related males. Coalition partners that are related are extremely tolerant of close proximity, and spend much of their time within a few meters of other members if not physically touching or grooming each other. Nonrelated coalition members often endure aggression. Instances of play between the related members could turn violent if the non related member came to join in. Non Related members also forgo much of the physical contact in which related members take part. After a period of time non related members of a coalition will not act as aggressively as they did in the beginning, In territorial skirmishes between male coalitions, group size has the greatest influence in the outcome. This is reflected in the long lengths of tenure for larger coalitions in areas of strong competition. Single males rarely hold territories in vicinity of coalitions. Non Territorial males (nonresidents or floaters) cover ground at a fast rate and are defined as nomads, often remaining in a single area for no more than a few days. Floater males urinate and defecate far less frequently than territorial males. These nonresident males typically consist of adolescents, single adult males that do not belong to a coalition, and old males. Behavioral differences between nonresident and resident males are apparent in the nonresident males. Floaters showed sulking behavior, often moved after dark and rarely rest on land formations that would make them visible to resident males. In addition, posturing suggests that the nonresident males are not relaxed, as they spend a greater amount of time alert and sitting up when resident males can be observed reclining ‘That the body weight of nonresident males in comparison to residents is, less aids these observations. ‘Cheetahs are promiscuous in nature, with the limiting factor for males being accessibility to females. The factor limiting reproductive success for females is access to resources. Males associate with females only at mating, provide no parental care, and will mate with as many females as possible. Females are essentially solitary and will breed throughout the year, though the majority of copulations on the Serengeti occur during the wet season.Females will mate with different males over successive attempts, and if encounters with male coalitions occur, they may mate with more than one individual Females have territories that will overlap with the territories of other females and males. Males, in or not in coalitions, will have territories in which they travel in search of females and will also leave their territories in search of females in estrus. Non-territorial males will travel the territories. of resident males in search of females while keeping a low profile. There is no evidence to suggest that females visit male territories in order to choose between different resident males. The average copulation frequency for cheetahs is 3 to 5 times per day. Reproducti Female cheetahs are polyestrous and in captivity cycle on average every 3 to 27 days, and may be receptive from 1 to 14 days. Cheetahs must be induced to ovulate, and there is little evidence for seasonal breeding. They are viviparous. Females undergo their first cycle at the age of 13 to 16 months, and on average reach sexual maturity between the ages of 21 to 22 months. Females typically give birth to their first litter at an average of 2.4 years of age, with intervals between litters of 20.1 months and a mean litter size of 2.1 cubs. Gestation lasts between 90 and 95 days Cheetah cubs are born helpless. They have closed eyes, little locomotive skill, and will open their eyes 4 to 14 days after birth. Young cheetahs will begin walking after 12 to 13 days when their eyes are open. At birth in the wild, cubs weigh between 0.6- 0.86lbs, but in captivity can reach ‘Ib. Litter sizes have been recorded up to 8 cubs in captivity, but 6 is the maximum that has been recorded in the wild. The average litter size in the wild is 2.6 cubs. Deciduous milk teeth in cubs erupt between 3 and 6 weeks of age, and will not be replaced with permanent teeth until the cubs are around 8 months old. Cubs are weaned from milk before their permanent teeth erupt, between 3 and 6 months of age. Cubs will stay with their mother until they are 15 to 47 months old Cheetah mothers spend a long time teaching their young how to hunt. Small, live antelopes are brought back to the cubs so they can leam to chase and catch them. The thick gray mane that young cubs have on the neck, shoulders, and back appears to function as camouflage from predators. The infant hair disappears after 3 months of age after their mother no longer hides them and they begin to follow her. A short mane is retained into adolescence or longer for some individuals. Young cubs are hidden in a marsh, a rocky outcrop, or simply tall vegetation for protection from predators for an average of eight weeks,and may be carried to new hiding locations during the period as their mothers leave the cubs to hunt. © Females with cubs may have to hunt successfully every day, whereas lone adults can afford to make kills every 2 to 5 days. Fun Facts: ©. The only cat that cannot retract its claws, an adaptation to help maintain traction like a soccer player's cleats. © It also bears distinctive black “tear tracks" running from the inside comer of each eye to the mouth that may serve as an anti-glare mechanism for daytime hunting. ¢ These big cats are the fastest land mammal and can reach speeds of about 95 to 60-75 mph. © The historic distribution of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) is very wide. It ranged from Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula to Tajikistan and central india, as well as throughout the continent of Africa excluding the zones of tropical forest and central Sahara. This range might include the arid and semiarid habitats of the regions of south, east, and north Africa and less arid areas of India, Turkmenistan, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In regions of Africa and Asia, European settlers treated cheetahs as vermin to be eradicated. © Cheetah skulls are short and broad, above the muzzle and cranium they are highly raised and vaulted. Nasal openings are dorsally broad and enlarged, with the bony plate extending well behind the molars. Nasal passages are large in comparison with other cats. ‘Young cubs have a pronounced mane that extends over the head, neck, and back, and is distinctly lighter shade, often looking gray, white or bluish-gray. The ong, woolly mane of cubs is thought to make them less conspicuous to predators. Despite the long fur of cubs, spots are consistently visible on the underfur. Cubs gradually lose their mane until they are adolescent. hosinewnantonialiecotsenataneneesh Mosianmataversy ogiscootuncanye anak!Bobcat - Lynx rufus a.k.a red lynx Collection (1.1)Bobbi (est. Oct. 25- Nov. 1, 2018)- Rescued from an industrial plant after no sight of their mother for days, came with her sister and was hand raised here. Her sister went to another zoo. Came Nov. 29, 2018 Oliver (May 2019)- Came to us very small. We believe he was taken out of his den by someone. We bottle fed him. He came June 18, 2019 Status Least concern: 725,00-1,020,000 left in the wild Threats ‘Predators of the bobcat include mountain lions, coyotes, foxes, owls, wolves, and humans (40,000 are killed each year by hunters) Residential & commercial development Annual & perennial non-timber crops Livestock farming & ranching Transportation & service corridors-Roads & railroads Biological resource use- Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals, Logging & wood harvesting, Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Conservation/Ask Stay involved with local legislation that has protected lands and rules that protect them from being displaced. As well as hunting laws. Quick Facts Lifespan: 7 years, no more than 10 in the wild and 25yrs in In human care Size:1.5-2 feet tall Weight: 10-30 Ibs ‘Speed: 30mph eooce© Group: clowder, clutter, pounce, A group of babies is called a kindle or embarrassment ¢ Physical Description: Most bobcats are brown or brownish red with a white underbelly and short, black-tipped tail. The cat is named for its tail, which appears to be cut or “bobbed. "They have long legs, large paws, and tufted ears ¢ Sexual Dimorphism: Female cats are relatively smaller than the male cats Extemal genitalia is another easier identifier. Natural Histo: Habitat: Bobeats are very adaptable and can live in a wide variety of habitats, including boreal coniferous and mixed forests in the north, bottomland hardwood forest and coastal swamp in the southeast, and desert and scrubland in the southwest. Range: ‘© The majority of the world's bobcats are found in the United States but they range from Mexico to southem Canada. Can travel 2-7 miles hunting and patrolling their territory. © Consists of rabbit and hares, with a smaller percentage of rodents, such as squirrels and mice. They also hunt small deer, snakes, lizards and domestic animals such as dogs, cats, sheep, goats and poultry They can leap high enough to catch low-flying birds Behavior: © Bobcats communicate through scent, visual signals, and vocalizations. Scent marking occurs by urinating along travel routes, depositing feces in latrine sites, and scraping urine and/or feces along a trail. These marks also indicate that a specific den is being used by a female and her kittens, signal that a female is receptive to mating, or delineate a home range. © Bobcats may be active during all hours of the day and night, but studies have consistently found crepuscular (dawn and dusk) activity peaks. Mating: ‘© Bobcats are solitary and territorial animals. The home range of a male bobcat overlaps that of several females, allowing a male to mate with more than one female (polygamous). © The mating season is primarily in the winter, though mating can take place anytime from November until August. © Females are sexually mature and mate after one year but males do not mate until they are 2 years old, Reprodu © Gestation is 60 to 70 days (average is 62 days) and there are usually two to four kittens per litter. The den can be a hollow tree, a cave, under dense shrubs, between two boulders or any other place protected from the weather. The female lines the den with moss and foliage and the kittens are typically born in the spring® Once the kittens are bor, the female drives the male away, although the male will stay in the vicinity. © The female nurses the kittens for two months and they then travel with her for three to five months, separating from her before the winter mating season. Eun Facts: © Excellent climber While running, they put their back feet in the same spots where their front feet stepped to reduce noise when hunting. © Ear tufts are thought to help with hearing The backs of bobcats’ ears are marked with two white spots, which the female's offspring probably follow in dim light. Another useful adaptation is the white underside of the bobbed tail. if the kittens fall too far behind, the mother stops and softly calls to them while raising her tail to reveal the white patch below. ® Bobcats vary in size and color along their continental range—larger animals occurring in the north and smaller animals in the south, Some are more grey or red depending where they are from. © Utilizes dens such as a cave or hollow log. they may have one main den but guard several. They will scent mark or scratch up these places to mark as their territory. © Oldest record wild bobcat lived to be 16 and in In human care 32years * Males: Tom Females: Queen Babies:kitten iositnatinalzn sledulanimaliooocatServal - Leptailurus serval Collection Malika (0.1) February 27, 2016 (Safari West, Santa Rosa, CA) Status © Least Concern Threats e Conservation/Ask Do not make good pets Quick Facts Lifespan: 19 years ize: 23 to 36 inches long and 17-24 inches tall Weight: 15-40 lbs Speed: 50 mph Group: Physical Descriptio! « Sexual Dimorphism: Natural History: Habitat: © Servals live near thickly planted streams and rivers in the savannas Range: Central and southern Africa. © This cat uses its large ears to hear prey over the tall grass. The serval then takes a giant leap up into the air and then forces its body weight down upon the victim, trapping it beneath the front paws until the cat can deliver a deadly bite to the neck © Varied diet, eating birds, reptiles, frogs, crabs, and large insects,Behavior: Unlike many other cat species, these small felines love to climb, leap, and play in water. They are crepuscular to avoid the heat of the day, although they do hunt at night when needed. Males may sometimes rest together during the day in small groups, but otherwise they are solitary. © Adults scent mark trees and bushes with a spray of urine to mark their territory. Mating: © A female serval ready to breed alerts any male in the area with very short and sharp calls or long yowls. Other serval vocalizations include shrill cries and mews, but the serval can growl, hiss, and purr, too. Reproduction: © The female serval raises her kittens alone, usually three kittens to a litter. They live in a den made of tall, thick grass or perhaps an abandoned burrow. The mother leaves her kittens most of the day while she hunts for food, returning to stay with them at night, At about one month of age, the mother starts to bring food back to the den for her cubs. She accepts the presence of her female offspring longer than that of males: once the boys can hunt for themselves, usually at about six months old, they are no longer welcome at home but may be allowed to remain in the mother's range for a while longer. Female offspring usually stay with their mother until they are about two years old. In the wild, female servals in overlapping ranges are often related to one another. Fun Facts: The serval has the longest legs and largest ears for its body size of any cat, of © Servals often share their savanna habitat with caracals and may compete with them for prey. Leopards, wild dogs, and hyenas are serval predators. If needed, 2 serval can climb a tree to escape The serval Standing on its hind legs, a serval can jump more than 9 feet. Ultrasonic hearing ability allows the serval to hear the high-pitched communication of rodents. © The cat's long, curved claws can also hook fish and frogs right out of the water. © Bred with house cats to create the “Savanna cat” “usanilssenciencenoos/simalslsealOrder Carnivora Family Canidae Species Conus rufus a What it looks like Red wolves are about 4 feet long from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail and are about 26 inches tall at the shoulder. They weigh 44-80 pounds with the males slightly larger than the females. The gray wolf (Canus lupus) is larger than the red wolf. The coyote (Canis latrans) is smaller. Red wolves are mostly brown/buff colored with some black along their backs. They often have a red: and legs. color on their ears, head How long does it live The life span of a red wolf is 47 years in the wild; up to 15 years in human care. Where itis from Red wolves were once common throughout the Eastern and South Central US. By the early 20" century, their populations were decimated by predator control programs and habitat destruction. In 1967 the Red Wolf was listed as endangered. Today about 40 red wolves can be found in their native habitats of eastern North Carolina and over 200 are in managed breeding facilities throughout the US. Their home ranges are 25-50 square miles. They have specific territories that are actively defended against other canines. What it eats Red wolves eat a variety of prey including white-tailed deer, raccoons and smaller mammals such as rabbits and mice. Red wolves can travel up to 20 miles a day in search of food. They will eat 25 pounds of food daily. In the 200, wolves are fed Mazuri exotic canine diet along with knucklebones and prey items provided once per week. How it communicates Red wolves communicate through body language, scent marking, and a series of vocalizations. These include the characteristic howl, along with aWhat it does How it reproduces Whois the enemy? Conservation Status Fun Stuff series of barks, growls, and yaps. The red wolf's howl sounds somewhat similar to a coyote’s, but is often lower pitched and lasts longer. Red wolves are active during the day. They are very social animals and live in close-knit packs. Typical packs consist of 5 8 animals, including a breeding pair and older offspring. ‘The breeding season for red wolves is February through March. Red wolves tend to form pair-bonds for life and mate once per year. Estrous lasts 57 days and gestation is 60 ~ 63 days. Pus are typically born in April or May in well-hidden dens that may be located in hollow trees or stream banks. Littler size averages 4~5 pups. Both parents help raise the young. Some or all members of the pack are involved in rearing the pups including den and pup defense, food regurgitation to mother and pups and grooming and playing with pups. Pups eyes open at 10-14 days, they begin to wander out of the den about 4 weeks and are weaned at 8-9 weeks. Older offspring will assist in rearing the pups. Almost all offspring disperse to form their own packs at 12 years of age. Fewer than half of wolf pups born in the wild will survive to adulthood. Survival rates are affected by disease, malnutrition and predation. Humans are a huge enemy to red wolves. Vehicle strikes and hunting remove breeders form the wild wolf population. These threats along with habitat fragmentation from increased development allow coyotes to expand into red wolf habitats. Coyotes directly compete with wolves for resources as well as introduce diseases and dilute wolf genetic lines through hybri tion. Red Wolves are endangered. There are approximately 40 wolves in the wild (Eastern North Carolina) and 200 in human care. © Since the red wolf program manages wolves for possible reintroduction, training techniques used for other large canines are not used. Wolves in the zoo’s care must remain as “wild” as possible.Zo0 Press Release/Whes g Intelligencer article: WHEELING — Oglebay’s Good Zoo is going back to its roots by helping to raise red wolves again, the second-most endangered mammal in the United States. The wolves once roamed much of the eastern U.S., including locally. However, habitat destruction and aggressive predator-control programs nearly drove the species to extinction, with about 40 individuals estimated to be left in the wild and 200 in captivity. ‘The Good Zoo cared for the wolves in the past, with 21 pups being born between 1996 and 2006, according to a press release. With the creation of the African Adventure area, the opportunity to take in a new species was made available, and the zoo will return to its roots by agreeing to rear more red wolves again. The Wolf Species Survival Plan is a program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums with the assistance of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Conservation is an important part of the work we do at Oglebay’s Good Zoo. Breeding the wolves in human care has been coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since the late 1980s in an attempt to save the species,” said Joe Greathouse, director of the Good Zoo. ‘With any luck, given our past success, wolves that are reared here at Oglebay will be part of that reintroduction process.” Other conservation work in the Good Zoo includes bobcats, Eastern hellbenders, eagles, hawks, owls and monarch butterflies. Nearly every animal in the zoo is part of an AZA species survival plan