Exmoor Zoo welcomes baby Maned Wolf to the world
It's been called a 'wonderful achievement' after a more than 15-year breeding programme to help save the threatened species
For the first time, a rare baby maned wolf has been born at Exmoor Zoo.
They’re native to South America, and the pup was born last month to parents Sabrina and Nephew here in Devon.
It's hoped visitors to the zoo will soon be able to catch a glimpse of the puppy, who is just starting to join his parents outside, and is often seen being carried by mum in her jaws.
The pup is the result of a 15-plus year breeding programme at Exmoor Zoo, with this birth being called a 'wonderful achievement' by bosses.
Zoo director Danny Reynolds said: “We have been part of the breeding program for 15+ years. Initially we just exhibited males so a female from the breeding programme really got us very excited!
"Maned wolves typically only breed once a year and within 8 weeks of her arrival from Shepreth Zoo she had given birth. Maned wolves are a species in decline in the wild. Threatened due to habitat destruction and persecution from farmers it is a wonderful achievement for all of us at Exmoor Zoo”.
Maned wolves aren't really wolves, but more of a big fox-like dog on stilts, according to the zoo, that evolved to make a living on the Patagonian grasslands of South America.
Also known as the “skunk wolf”, they have a strong sweet odour too.
They have a 50% fruit diet (they are known to enjoy 'loberia', or 'fruit of the wolf') and also adore chicken, which has brought them into conflict with farmers in their native lands of Patagonia.
A litter of pups can consist of up to 6 individuals, and when they're first born, are blind with dark brown fur for camouflage - and at about 10 weeks of age, their red coat and white tipped tails.
The pup will be reliant on mums’ milk for another 3 months, but mum or dad have already begun to regurgitate meals for it in the den.
Zoo’s curator Derek Gibson said: “The little pup has been doing great and we are looking forward to watch as he grows into his legs.”