• Insurance The maned wolf is a threatened species and there is concern that the population in the wild is declining, with potential local extinctions. Taxonomic issues related to possible sub‐species have been raised, but not answered. There is no pressing need to use the ex situ population as a source, but depending on the outcome of the sub‐species discussion this might change, and a well‐managed ex situ population preserves options for future conservation strategies. |
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• Education (non range) Having the species in EAZA collections provides an opportunity to educate visitors about the impact of consumer choices (such as soy extraction) on the habitat of the species and its survival. • Research The ex situ population can support research on health (disease risk from domestic dogs, vaccine trials), genetic particularities (of the in situ and ex situ population), assisted reproductive techniques and reasons for high cub mortality by providing data. • Funding Providing financial support to in situ projects. |
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• Education (biological) Maned wolves are ecologically different due to their diet and occurrence in grassland habitat. They are the only large canid from South America and because of their atypical wolf behaviour the maned wolf provides an interesting case for education. |
In December 2018, the Maned wolf EEP had 130 animals in 54 institutions.
This work is supported by the European Union LIFE NGO funding programme. The European Union is not responsible for the views displayed in publications and/or in conjunction with the activities for which the grant is used.