Red wolves arrive at Great Plains Zoo

Two critically endangered red wolves have a new home at the Great Plains Zoo.

The new wolves are a male and a female. They arrived this week from facilities in Texas and Washington.

Red wolves are currently the most endangered canid species in the world, with fewer than two dozen living in the wild. The wolves’ placement at the zoo is part of a species survival plan, which aims to breed pairs with the greatest possible genetic diversity.

“With only around 20 individuals remaining in the wild, the survival of the red wolf species is contingent upon the concerted help of accredited zoos and conservation partners with species survival breeding and reintroduction plans,” Becky Dewitz, CEO of the Great Plains Zoo, said in a statement. “We are grateful and dedicated to helping save the red wolf from extinction.”

The zoo plans to share more information about the wolves and their journeys to Sioux Falls in the coming weeks. They are acclimating to one another and to their new habitat, so the path by their enclosure will be blocked during ZooBoo tonight through Sunday. The zoo asks that guests attending the event respect the barricades and give the wolves the space they need during this adjustment period.

Trick-or-treat with lots of new additions at this year’s ZooBoo