TAMPA, Fla. -- The newest members of ZooTampa now have names! The four red wolf puppies born in late April have all been named after Florida locations.
- ZooTampa's four red wolf pups named after Florida locations
- Wolves named Conner, Yulee, Redington, and Boca
- Endangered wolves born in late April
The four pups, made up of three males and one female, have been named Conner, Yulee, Redington, and Boca.
The red wolf pups were born to their mother Yona in a newly designed habitat that mimics living in the wild.
Guests are able to watch as the pups grow and emerge from their den that Yona dug herself.
The birth of the four wolves is the first at the zoo since 1993.
Red wolves are native to Florida and once roamed throughout the Southeast. Today, they are critically endangered, with only around 200 red wolves remaining in zoos and reintroduction areas. Wolves were hunted by ranchers to near extinction for fear they would attack livestock.
“The birth of these red wolf pups represents a significant milestone for this species,” said Dr. Larry Killmar, the Zoo’s Chief Zoological Officer. “The success of this litter is encouraging and represents hope for the future of these incredible animals. Yona is caring for her pups in public view, which shows how comfortable and well cared for she feels.”
As part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, ZooTampa is helping to ensure the red wolf population can continue despite serious threats to those in the wild.