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MEXICAN GRHEYSeWeilenOpfALooFnurumirmMasateliohxAnidceoaolnnpptghiorooanwyupwtuorollalovdpueotsap.fotcrk! MEXICAN GRAY WOLF

Shadow Cat was indeed pregnant, CONSERVATION Keeping up with the Pack
and staff caught their first glimpse of her 2018 was a busy year for Brookfield Zoo’s Mexican
offspring—a girl—at the end of July, about gray wolves. It started out with the wolves participat-
30 days after she was born. She had grown ing in a cutting-edge scientific procedure—the implications of which
enough to be visible in her nest site, and is could help save the endangered species.
now on exhibit with her mother in Habitat
Africa! The Forest. In February, 5-year-old Zana was artificially inseminated with a
donor wolf’s frozen semen, and veterinary staff collected semen from
Giant elephant shrews are listed as our seven male wolves to be frozen and stored. Their semen may be
vulnerable according to the International used for future artificial inseminations on wolves in the wild and/or in
Union for Conservation of Nature, primarily professional care.
due to habitat destruction. And there are
only 15 giant elephant shrews in eight Mexican gray wolves mate for life, but with fewer than 300 of these
institutions, so this birth was really animals living under professional care, and about 100 living in the
quite exciting. wild, increasing genetic diversity is key. By using artificial reproduction
techniques, these wolves can stay with their mates while improving the
Brookfield Zoo has housed this species genetic diversity of the overall population.
since 2008, and our little newborn is the
seventh baby to be born here. While Zana did not become pregnant from the procedure, staff were
still optimistic. “Any time we have the opportunity to try something
new, it’s incredibly exciting,” said Joan Daniels, the Society’s curator of
mammals. “The artificial reproduction techniques being developed will
be the key to the success of this program in the future.”

Then, in July, Brookfield Zoo hosted the 2018 Mexican Wolf
Species Survival Plan Annual Meeting, an international event where
experts gathered to share their knowledge about this species and
further develop a master plan to support these animals, both under
professional care and in the wild.

Animal care staff is looking forward to 2019 and what the new year
will bring for our wolf pack—experts are currently finalizing breeding
recommendations for the pack.

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