February 27, 2018 –Manhattan’s Sunset Zoo is proud and excited to announce the birth of three maned wolf pups. Born on a freezing night in December to mother Lelah, and to father Meek, the trio are doing very well. As they approach their nine week mark, the trio can be seen exploring their home and following their parents around.

Sunset Zoo’s wolf pair are now second time parents. Many in the community will remember their first offspring, Fin, and his best friend Matty, a golden Labrador who was raised alongside Fin in 2016. Fin is currently living at the AZA accredited Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (a partner facility of the National Zoo) in Front, Royal Virginia. When Fin left Sunset Zoo, Matty was placed with a loving, forever home, where he still is today.
 
When Finn was born, the first time parents struggled to adjust to life with a newborn, and during Finn’s first week, the Sunset Zoo staff made the decision to pull the young wolf and hand raise the animal. With their second litter, Lelah and Meek have been excellent parents, requiring no assistance from the keeper staff, besides standard and daily care.
 
“We are so proud of Lelah and Meek, they are preforming their parenting duties very well. The keepers have done a wonderful job making sure that the parents felt safe and comfortable, so they could focus on taking care of their pups,” said Scott Shoemaker, Zoo Director. “We are excited to have these little guys, and encourage the community to come and see them, and learn about this unique species.”
 
Maned wolves range through central and eastern South American, including northern Argentina, South and Central Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Southern Peru. The maned wolf is the largest canid of South America, and looks more like a long-legged fox than a wolf, standing about 3 feet tall at the shoulder, and weighing about 50 pounds. They are distinctively red in color, with long black legs and tall pointy ears.
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For more information about Sunset Zoo, visit SunsetZoo.com or call 785.587.APES. Sunset Zoo is located at 2333 Oak Street near the Manhattan High School West Campus. Home to over 200 animals and accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Zoo is committed to inspiring the conservation of our natural world.