Today’s Solutions: November 02, 2024

A Rhode Island zoo recently announced the rare birth of an endangered red wolf, bringing new hope for the species’ survival. The red wolf is the world’s most endangered canid, which is why the birth of the pup, on May 5th, is such a remarkable conservation moment. Only about 15-20 red wolves remain in the wild, all of whom have their habitat in eastern North Carolina.

The now 28-day-old pup is the first red wolf born at the Roger Williams Park Zoo since 2005 and is the first successful birth for the mother Brave (aged 6) and father Diego (aged 7), the facility announced in a press release.

While the father Diego has recently been released into the wild, zookeepers and veterinarians will continue to monitor both the mother and the pup. The newborn has already been observed nursing and is steadily gaining weight. But the zoo will keep paying close attention to the pup over the next month which is a particularly important period for its development.

After the population continued to decline due to poaching and habitat loss, red wolves were declared extinct in the wild in 1980. But luckily that was not the end of it. To help the species survive, the US Fish and Wildlife Service collaborated with the Associations of Zoos and Aquariums to create the Red Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP).

As a result of the SSP, the 14 remaining wild red wolves became part of a captive breeding program. The program aims to ensure the species’ survival by expanding their population and then reintroducing them into the wild.

The American red wolves get their name from their red-tinged fur. They are smaller than gray wolves and larger than coyotes. Their main prey includes smaller mammals such as raccoons and rabbits, but they will also occasionally hunt deer. In addition to howling, red wolves communicate through scent marking, body posture, and facial expressions, according to the zoo.

This story was part of our Best of 2022 series highlighting our top solutions from the year. Today we’re featuring environment and climate-focused solutions.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

This heartwarming Danish ad breaks down the ‘Us vs Them’ narrative

It’s rare that we publish a story about an advertisement, but then again it’s rare that an ad stirs so much emotion within its ...

Read More

NOAHs: Charlotte has a formula for long-lasting affordable housing

We recently shared how empty retail space could be the solution to California’s affordable housing crisis. Across the country in North Carolina, the city ...

Read More

A seat at the table for underrepresented communities

Climate change is already affecting all of us—however, those that bear the brunt of these consequences are predominantly from low-income, marginalized, BIPOC communities. So ...

Read More

Expanding democracy: Michigan opens new doors for formerly incarcerated voters

Malijah Gee's path from incarceration at the age of 17 to imminent freedom reflects the longing for a voice that has been suppressed for 36 years. ...

Read More