Salisbury Zoo: Salisbury, Maryland - part 4 of 5

 The next section follows along the southern edge and then turns to encompass the western quarter of the Zoo.  The key species here is the Critically Endangered Red Wolf.  The Salisbury Zoo introduced Red Wolves to the public in late 2008, and then that spring the pair produced a litter of 5 pups!  These are critically endangered animals once completely extinct in the wild.  Now, they only roam free in a nature reserve in an area of swampy eastern North Carolina.  Since then the zoo has been home to a succession of pairs, but lightning has yet to strike twice.  Currently, male Red Wolf, Bowie resides with female, Skyrae.  Bowie was born under the auspices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Red Wolf Recovery Program located in North Carolina in 2021.  He came as a companion animal for the zoo's elderly female, Shiloh.  When Shiloh passed in 2023, a younger female, Skyrae, was paired with him as part of the AZA SSP.  Skyrae was born at the Wolf Conservation Center in New York state in 2019.  The two are young and represent the best chance for a successful litter at the zoo in years.

Also in this section are two fully enclosed habitats.  One for a pair of American Bald Eagles and the other is home to a familial pair of Canadian Lynx.  The mother/daughter pair; Chayne and Helga respectively came in 2021 from The Pittsburgh Zoo in Pennsylvania.  The Eagles were out, the Lynx's were not.  In between the two are a pair of very large spaces suitable for hoofstock, but home to Greater Rhea and Capybara.  There is a lot of unrealized potential here for larger animals like Pronghorn Animals or Baird's Tapir.  At one point the zoo was home a Jaguar--more than enough room for a state-of-the-art large cat complex for two or three species: Jaguar, Canadian Lynx and Puma, maybe?  

There are two options for trying to get a view of the Red Wolves.  This is looking at the east end of the habitat.

Next to this is a building with gives you unobstructed views and shelter from the rain.

In the central area of the habitat is a set of round concrete enclosures with openings at the cardinal points that pass all the way through both.  This is where I got my first glimpse.  Yes, you are looking at the foreleg of a Red Wolf on the other side of the tunnel opening.  Hey, seeing these things is not for the impatient.

Encouraged, I went into the enclosure and waited patiently.

RESULT!

This is a creature that doesn't give a rat's ass whether or not you see him.

And yet, waiting him out is so worth the effort.  This beautiful little guy is one of only 300 on this entire planet.  And we are 100% to blame for their slaughter.  If it weren't for AZA zoos and affiliated conservation centers, they would be gone.

RED WOLF

Canis rufus

The other end of the building looks out on large, mostly empty habitats.

The realm of the unrealized potential.

A pair of American Bald Eagles watching a pair of adolescent Greater Rhea.

AMERICAN BALD EAGLE

Halialeetus leucocephalus

GREATER RHEA

Rhea americana

I don't know what a Capybara complains about when they complain about their digs, but this could possibly include lack of elbow room!  Can you see her?

CAPYBARA

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris