There are only between 15 and 17 red wolves remaining in the wild, so this is excellent news.
Red wolf pups. Image credit: Ryan Nordsven/USFWS
In a welcome turn of events, red wolf pups have been spotted at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. The rare, newly captured footage of red wolves on a playful evening adventure was shared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
According to officials, the newly born pups are the first ones to be seen in the wild since 2018. Although only five of them were captured on camera, biologists have confirmed that all six are healthy and receiving adequate care from their parents.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shared rare, recent footage of red wolves out and about on an early evening scamper. Video credit: USFWS
The number of red wolves in the wild has dwindled to about only 15 individuals, which is half the population that existed a year ago. These wolves are indigenous to South Carolina.
The red wolf, which is about the size of a German shepherd and moves with a graceful agility, was originally a native species of the Lowcountry. However, they were hunted for generations as a nuisance before being declared extinct in the wild in 1980, with only 14 individuals in captivity known to exist at the time.
Red wolf pups playing with adult red wolves in the wild. Image credit: OnceAndFutureLaura
Conservationists regard the red wolf as an essential indigenous species that is presently absent in the area. Some argue that reintroducing the population in South Carolina would assist in managing invasive species such as coyotes.
The species would not face immediate extinction even if the wild population were to disappear entirely, as approximately 200 red wolves are still being kept in captivity. But the survival of the wild population would still be crucial for the future of the species.
Sources: 1, 2, 3
