Red Wolf Summer Reading List

Over the next two months, there are some exciting new book and article releases on red wolf conservation and recovery.  We wanted to let you know about these upcoming resources now, so you can put them on your summer reading list.  We’ll post a reminder once things go to press as well!

We are very excited about the release of the new book, The Secret World of Red Wolves: The Fight to Save North America’s Other Wolf by T. DeLene Beeland.  DeLene is a science and nature writer who resides in Asheville, North Carolina.  Her new book is highly anticipated by the wolf conservationist community, as there currently no comprehensive resource on red wolves for adult readers.  In her book, she describes the natural history of this often misunderstood predator, discusses the natural history of the species and the evolution of red wolf recovery efforts. Her narrative is very objective, as she shares the viewpoints of scientists, advocates, local landowners, and even our own program staff here at the Red Wolf Recovery Program. The book, published by University of North Carolina Press, is scheduled to be released in early June, but is also currently available for pre-order through Amazon.  You can read an excerpt of it on the author’s website here.

DeLene also started a new group, Friends of the Red Wolf, to further support the conservation and recovery of wild red wolves. The group directly collaborates directly with the Red Wolf Recovery Program to help them achieve recovery goals for the red wolf through scientific research and adaptive management practices. Friends of the Red Wolf is part of The WILD Foundation, under which it has 501(c)3 status.  This non-profit organization and status allows donors to deduct their charitable contributions—so your donations will directly contribute to red wolf conservation.  These contributions will help purchase field supplies including VHF telemetry collars and help pay for veterinary services.  Check out their blog or Facebook page for more information!

Another book we’re really looking forward to is the graphic novel, Return of the Red Wolf. This educational project is a fantastic collaboration between the Red Wolf Species Survival Plan® (SSP) Education Advisor, Craig Standridge, and Washington artist, Beth Graham.  The novel is narrated by Graham, a red wolf at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, and aims to tell students about red wolf natural history, the recovery process, and how everyone can get involved in red wolf conservation.  While the novel is targeted towards 7^th graders, we have no doubt all ages will enjoy this read and appreciate the colorful, incredible artwork. 

This innovate education project was funded by the Point Defiance Zoological Society and the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program and will be published by Point Defiance Zoological Society and made available for order on Amazon.com.  All sales collected will go towards red wolf conservation efforts at two organizations: the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium Committee Fund (money that will be used to find grants that will benefit red wolves), and the Friends of the Red Wolf, ensuring that the novel sales will benefit both the wild and zoo-based red wolf populations.

Lastly, the summer 2013 issue of International Wolf magazine will be published for release soon!  We’re really looking forward to this issue as it will feature an interview of our Red Wolf Recovery Program Coordinator, David, by Neil Hutt.  Neil is a writer and educator, as well as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Red Wolf Coalition, a partner and frequent collaborator.  The article about red wolf recovery is accompanied by photos by our Assistant Coordinator, Becky.  In this issue, Neil also reviews Delene’s book, The Secret World of Red Wolves: The Fight to Save North America’s Other Wolf.  Lots of good red wolf readings!

Red Wolf Species Survival Plan

What is a Species Survival Plan (SSP?). The American SSP program was developed in 1981 by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The mission of an AZA SSP Program is to cooperatively manage specific, and typically threatened or endangered, species population within AZA-accredited Zoos and Aquariums, and other AZA conservation partners including Certified Related Facilities, and Approved Non-Member Participants.

SSP programs focus on animals that are in danger of extinction in the wild, these captive breeding programs may be their only chance to survive; these programs also help maintain healthy and genetically diverse animal populations within the zoo community. SSP programs significantly contribute to field conservation efforts, species recovery, veterinary care for wildlife disease issues, and establishment of assurance populations. There are currently more than 300 SSP Programs, each managed by their corresponding Taxon Advisory Groups, within AZA. For each species, a comprehensive population Studbook and a Breeding and Transfer Plan are developed which identifies population management goals and recommendations to ensure the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied AZA population.

Red Wolves were nearing extinction in the wild when the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington established a captive-breeding program in association with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Point Defiance Zoo developed husbandry techniques, recruited four additional cooperating institutions to house wolves in the captive program and received AZA approval for a Red Wolf SSP program in 1984. By 1984, the captive population numbered 63 individuals and was growing, largely through the coordinated efforts of the Point Defiance Zoo and Red Wolf SSP cooperators.  These efforts made the release of red wolves into the first reintroduction site at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in 1987 possible.  Today, there are 43 SSP facilities participating in the Red Wolf SSP program (use this link for map and websites of all SSP cooperators), with ~190 red wolves.  The Red Wolf SSP is the foundation of the recovery program. Without its collective expertise and resources, the future of the red wolf would be uncertain. The contributions of the RWSSP include: (1) managing populations, (2) training field personnel on techniques for proper capture and restraint, (3) applying captive research to the field and (4) reintroducing captive born red wolves.

 Red wolf SSP locations. 

Successful conservation programs are often developed through partnerships. The Red Wolf Recovery Program is a great example of organizations working together to benefit a species. Zoos can play a significant role in red wolf recovery by informing visitors about the value of wolves in ecosystems and inspiring the public to support the wolf's reestablishment in the wild.  We encourage you to check out the websites of the Red Wolf SSP program participants.  There are a lot of photos, videos, and educational resources available on red wolves! Most of them also have Facebook pages, blogs, Twitter, and You Tube accounts as well.

Here’s just a few you can explore the resources of:

Chattanooga Nature Center (Chattanooga, TN)

Endangered Wolf Center (Eureka, MO)

Fort Worth Zoological Park (Fort Worth, TX)

Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens (Chicago, IL)

North Carolina Museum of Life & Science (Durham, NC)

Wildlife Science Center (Forest Lake, MN)

Wolf Conservation Center of New York  (South Salem, NY)

Red wolf cam video at Wolf Conservation Center of New York