Zoo welcomes 4 new wolves

UTICA, N.Y. » Utica Zoo has added four new male Mexican Gray Wolves (Canis lupus baileyi) from California.

The new wolves join the zoo’s lone female wolf, Sierra, a long-time resident of the Zoo. Last year, Aztec, Sierra’s sister, died to an aggressive form of cancer.

“Even though it sometimes happens in the wild, ideally we do not want our animals – especially a species like Mexican wolves – to live without companionship,” said Pearl Yusuf, director of Animal Operations.” After Aztec passed, we were in touch with the right people to improve Sierra’s social quality of life.”

The new males – all 2-yearold siblings – came from the

California Wolf Center outside of San Diego. The facility is dedicated to the care and conservation of Mexican Gray and Rocky Mountain Gray wolves. It has cared for and bred wolves as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s MexicanWolf Recovery program.

All Mexican Gray Wolves are owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan. The two organizations oversee the care and housing of each Mexican Gray Wolf on an individual basis. Utica Zoo was in immediate contact with both organizations after the passing of Aztec to determine the best course of action for Sierra.

Fortunately, the Zoo was able to work closely with the USFWS and AZA to determine the best course of action was to bring in new companions for Sierra, rather than move her to a new facility.

A long dedication to Wolves

The arrival of the new male wolves is the latest addition to the long history of Mexican Gray Wolves at the Zoo. Since 2000, Utica Zoo has been an active participant in the conservation and advancement of the species. After the last of the original pack passed away, the Zoo took a family group of five females. The offspring of one of the five females, Sierra, has never bred.

However, earlier this year, she was spayed and her reproductive organs were sent to AZA’s Reproductive Management Center in St. Louis, where they are cryopreserved. Part of AZAs Species Survival Plan is to collect and preserve reproductive material in order to assist in the production of endangered animals via artificial insemination. Further, the reproductive organs of her mother and sister, both Utica Zoo residents at one time, are preserved in the same facility.

PHOTO COURTESY UTICA ZOO The Utica Zoo welcomes four male Mexican gray wolves from California. They will join the zoo’s lone female gray wolf Sierra.

PHOTO COURTESY UTICA ZOO The Utica Zoo welcomes four male Mexican gray wolves from California. They will join the zoo’s lone female gray wolf Sierra.