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The Red Wolf (Canis rufus) suffered huge population and habitat losses throughout the 20th century, and was placed on the Endangered Species List in 1967. The species continued to decline, resulting in a 1973 decision to remove them from the wild and place them in captivity for breeding purposes. By 1980, there were no red wolves in the wild.
In 1987, red wolves were reintroduced to the wild at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern North Carolina. This reintroduction marked the first attempt to reintroduce a carnivore declared extinct in the wild to a portion of its former range. Today, a free-ranging population of red wolves inhabits about one and one-half million acres of federal, private and state lands in northeastern North Carolina.
Red wolf #11202, one of two pups born at N.C. Zoo and later "inserted" into a wild-born litter, was recaptured in November 2003. She and her brother are fully adapted to the wild, and are now full members of the pack.
N.C. Zoo's Rod Hackney takes us for a tour of the Alligator River area.
Meet Tim Mengel Animal Supervisor for N.C. Zoo's Red Wolves
Article: Two Captive-Born Red Wolf Pups Adopted By Wild Packs; 2002 Foster Pup Produces Wild Litter
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N.C. Zoo is a member institution of AZA and an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr. Secretary; Michael F. Easley, Governor. A part of the North Carolina Government portal.
The Zoo is closed Christmas day and during severe weather. Call our information line at: 1-800-488-0444.
