Endangered Wolf Center facts for kids
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| Date opened | 1971 |
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| Location | Eureka, Missouri, United States |
| Coordinates | 38°30′56″N 90°33′08″W / 38.5155°N 90.5522°W |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Endangered Wolf Center is a special place in Eureka, Missouri, near St. Louis, USA. It's a non-profit organization that works to save and bring back very rare wolves to the wild. The center is approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which means it meets high standards for animal care. You can visit the center, but you need to book your tour ahead of time.
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Saving Wolves: The Endangered Wolf Center
The Endangered Wolf Center started in 1971. It was founded by a famous naturalist named Marlin Perkins and his wife, Carol. They saw that wolves around the world were in danger of disappearing forever.
What the Center Does
The main goal of the center is to protect and save different kinds of wild dogs, called canids. This includes Mexican wolves and red wolves. They focus on three important things:
- Carefully breeding animals.
- Releasing animals back into their natural homes.
- Teaching people about these amazing animals.
Many animals born at the center have been successfully released. For example, red wolves have gone to North Carolina. Mexican wolves have been released in Arizona and New Mexico.
Research and Animal Care
The center also does important research. They study what wolves need to be healthy. This includes their diet, how they behave, and how they reproduce. The Endangered Wolf Center helped start special plans. These plans are called Species Survival Plans. They help manage the breeding of Mexican and red wolves across different zoos.
In August 2016, the center was home to six types of endangered canids. These included Mexican wolves, red wolves, maned wolves, African painted dogs, fennec foxes, and swift foxes. At that time, they had more than 20 Mexican gray wolves. This was more than any other breeding facility. In 2015, only 97 Mexican wolves were known to live in the wild. The center plays a key role in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts. They help save Mexican wolves and return them to the wild.
Visiting the Center
The center offers different ways to see the animals. You can take tours during the day. They also have special evening "wolf howls." During these events, you might hear the wolves howling! Remember, you always need to make a reservation before you visit.
How the Center is Supported
The Endangered Wolf Center is a non-profit organization. This means it doesn't get money from the government. It relies on support from its members, people who donate, and visitors. The center is located on the land of Washington University in St. Louis' Tyson Research Center. You can find it off Interstate 44, about 7 miles (11 km) west of Interstate 270. It's about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of St. Louis. The center was first known as the Wild Canid Survival and Research Center.
Images for kids
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Mexican wolves at the Endangered Wolf Center
