SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County zoo shared a story on Tuesday of both joy and heartbreak with the birth of a maned wolf pup.
Layla, the zoo's female maned wolf, gave birth to a female pup, Amora.
"Tragically, despite expert care, Layla unexpectedly passed away, leaving Amora without a mother. Maned wolves are naturally solitary, but young pups need companionship to develop properly."
"Without a mother or sibling, it is challenging for her to learn the natural behaviors she will need to thrive as a maned wolf.To ensure she had the right companionship, we found a unique solution - we turned to the Kansas Humane Society to adopt a puppy."
Slinky, a brindle mix, was taken in by the Kansas Humane Society on the very same day Amora was born, and adopted by the Zoo three weeks later."
"They have since been carefully introduced, and while Amora has quite the spicy personality, Slinky's playful nature is helping her grow into the wolf she is meant to be."
"Slinky has started the socialization process for Amora and has since been adopted by a member of our staff. As per the SSP (Species Survival Plan), Amora will eventually transition to living with other maned wolves, carrying on the legacy of her species. The zoo encouraged the public to "stay tuned for more updates on Amora as she continues to grow."