04.2017 newsletter

Colorado Wolf

AND WILDLIFE CENTER APRIL 2017

Amarok

Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center welcomes Amarok, a 3-year-old Timber Wolf. He comes from Medellin, Colombia, South America. The Santa Fe Zoo in Medellin rescued him from the illegal wildlife trade. We are excited to add him to our wolf pack and educating the public about the illegal wildlife trade and the impact on animals.

Amarok flew from Medellin Columbia to Bogota Columbia with a lay over in San Salavador and then to the United States in Dallas, Texas. We were waiting for him there and drove him back to his permanent home in Divide, Colorado.

The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Look for this logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.

The contents of the material we include in our newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views of Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center. We collect information from sources that are from other organizations, the web, news feeds, and/or other sources. We choose articles that are in the related field of education and conservation.

WELCOME AMAROK!!

CERTIFIED BY THE

Wolf Found in Colombia will be Sent to the United States The grey wolf (Canis lupus) rescued by Corantioquia and delivered to the Santa Fe Zoological Park in 2016 will be sent to the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, an animal sanctuary for this species, located close to the city of Denver in the United States.

Medellin, Columbia The Santa Fe Zoological Park and Corantioquia joined forces to transfer a grey wolf (Canis lupus), in order to safeguard the welfare to the animal.

In view of this, Miguel Oyola, veterinary doctor of the Santa Fe Zoo, stated that “we cannot forget that wolves are gregarious species and that this is the only one of its kind in

Colombia. At the Sanctuary, Ámarok will coexist with other wolves, mostly rescued from illegal trafficking.”

Iván Gil, director of the Santa Fe Zoo, said that the wolf will go to the wolf sanctuary in an excellent state of health because the necessary efforts and investments for veterinary care and a healthy diet were made during the last 15 months for its recovery.

At the beginning of April, representatives of the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, Darlene Kobobel and Rick Silverberg, will visit Medellin to coordinate transfer details and discuss technical details related to the animal’s journey with staff from Corantioquia and the Santa Fe Zoological Park.

To subscribe to our newsletter, visit our website at

wolfeducation.org and sign up on the newsletter page.

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Welcome Amarok In December, we were informed about a wolf who resided in the Santa Fe Zoological Park in Colombia. We were not certain if we could take in another wolf, so we asked a few other sanctuaries. Unfortunately, the supply of animals outweighs the space by a hundredfold, so we thought about how to make this one work.

We receive several emails of wolf dogs daily that are in need of surrender. However, this one was special for our educational purposes.

He was a rescue from the illegal wildlife trade which is a multi-billion dollar business. Rick and I traveled to Colombia to meet with the zoo personnel. We were greeted and treated like we were the rock stars which we felt they were for rescuing and caring for Amarok for almost a year. I cannot say enough good things about the people we met and the beautiful country.

We were amazed of the high technology that actually surpasses many countries in this city and the education that is provided about their animals and environment.

We feel honored to have received such a gift and have made new friends to share ongoing information as partners in this world that is in the 11th hour for animals and the environment.

Very soon we will have a webcam where everyone can see our new boy from anywhere in the world.

Please stay tuned. He may even be paired with one of our single picky ladies here at the Center. He is, by the way, tall, dark, handsome and speaks a beautiful Spanish language.

Earth Day Event April 22 We held our first Earth Event on Saturday, April 22. Our guests enjoyed our staff presentations, and the wolf tour with an Earth Day howl. A big thank you to Beth, Fish, Pierce, David, Alexa, Killina and Stacey for their time and hard work preparing for their fun and informative presentations. Presentations were on the following subjects.

• Green cleaning and eating • How long things stay in the landfills • Eating locally • What can we each do to help our ecosystem • Water concerns and conservation

Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center named #1 Best Safari Park in US as seen on Fox 21 News

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — For weeks people were able to vote for USA Today’s Best Zoo and Wildlife Safari Park in the U.S. The votes have been counted and we’ve got great news for Colorado!

Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center in Divide took the top spot and was named best safari park.

Visitors to the wildlife sanctuary park in Divide get up close and personal with exotic and endangered animals from around the country and the world.

The center is also a non-profit and focuses on providing a safe haven for unwanted wolf-dogs. It believes in educating the public on how important wolves, coyotes and foxes are to our ecosystem. | 4 | COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER

The top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.

Here’s the full list of winners: 1. Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center – Divide, CO 2. Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park – Ashland, NE 3. Fossil Rim Wildlife Center – Glen Rose, TX 4. San Diego Zoo Safari Park – San Diego, CA 5. Bearizona – Williams, AZa 6. B. Bryan Preserve – Point Arena, CA 7. Lion Country Safari – Loxahatchee, FL 8. Safari West – Santa Rosa, CA 9. African Safari Wildlife Park – Port Clinton, OH 10. The Wilds – Cumberland, OH

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Mother’s Day with the

WOLVES! May 14th 9-11am

A Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) ranger stands guard around illegal stockpiles of burning elephant tusks, ivory figurines and rhinoceros horns at the Nairobi National Park in April 2016.

Carl de Souza — AFP/Getty Images

Research Shows Just How Much Hunting Reduces Animal Populations Justin Worland - Time Magazine Hunting has a devastating effect on animal populations — and the impact could worsen as development spreads in the future, according to research done in developing countries.

Researchers found that hunting on average leads to an 83% reduction in mammal populations within 25 miles of hunter access points like roads and towns.

The findings, published in the journal Science, come as researchers in the developing world expect hunters to gain access to new areas thanks to millions of miles of roads expected to open in the coming decades. In the study, researchers call for expanded legal protection for animal habitats and increased law enforcement focus on illegal hunting.

“Strategies to sustainably manage wild meat hunting in both protected and unprotected tropical ecosystems are urgently needed,” said study author Ana Benítez-López, a researcher at Radboud University in the Netherlands. “This includes monitoring hunting

activities by increasing anti-poaching patrols and controlling overexploitation via law enforcement.”

Hunting has also hit bird populations hard, with the practice leading to a 58% decline in population numbers within 4.5 miles of hunter access points. Researchers attribute the difference between the effect on birds and mammals to the amount of meat they provide. Commercial hunters are more likely to target mammals because they provide more meat, they said.

Data for the new research came from more than 175 studies conducted in the tropics of developing countries.Of course, hunting is far from the only threat faced by vulnerable animals across the globe. Loss of habitat due to human development, invasive species and climate change have all contributed to a loss of biodiversity across the globe. In turn, a loss of species diversity harms humans in a number of ways, by reducing pollination and pest control that supports agriculture and by allowing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

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· Wolf Tour · A Flower for Moms · Snacks $30 adults $15 kids 12 & under Prepay Event

Reservations 719.687.9742

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CONSERVATION CORNER

Tasmanian tiger

By Jade Christenson’s - CWWC staff member

The thylacine come from Greek for “dog-headed pouched one” but is more commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf.

This was one of the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times native to continental Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. Its thought that the species decline began with the dingo, an invasive species on the continent of Australia.

Surviving evidence suggests that it was a relatively shy, nocturnal creature with the general appearance of a medium-to-large-size dog, except for its stiff tail and abdominal pouch much like a kangaroo and dark transverse stripes that radiated from the top of its back, similar to that of a tiger. The thylacine would have been an apex predator, like the tigers and wolves of other northern regions. As a marsupial, it was not closely related to these placental mammals, but its closest living relative is thought to be either the Tasmanian devil or the numbat.

NAKAI On March 12th 2017, everyone who knew this special wolf named Nakai suffered a broken heart and a deep emptiness that day. Nakai was the picture of pure innocence and happiness. Even though this wolf had a rough start from the beginning of his life with metabolic bone disease, was crippled and toward the end had severe seizures, he never showed an ounce of depression. If he knew you, he would hobble over as fast as he could to greet you and maybe give you a kiss. His face was so beautiful and his spirit was nothing but love. He will be missed so desperately by so many including his wolf companion Princess.

You are free now our beautiful boy. We love you so much and your memory is in every howl and every thing that is nature.

Love, Your mama and all of us who knew you. You will forever be in our hearts.

The species disappeared in Australia and despite their dwindling numbers in Tasmania by the early 20th century they continued to be hunted. They were labeled as extinct in the wild as well as in captivity with Benjamin at the Hobart Zoo on the island of Tasmania in September 1936.

Even so, there have been numerous sightings in the following decades that have lead many to believe a small number of the marsupials may have avoided extinction and are living in an isolated pocket of tropical North Queensland.

A group of scientists is preparing to launch a search for the thylacine in the far north of Queensland, Australia. Scientists from James Cook University will place 50 camera traps baited with lures to collect information on two sites in north Queensland.

The cameras will be able to detect all species, so regardless of whether they actually spot a Tasmanian tiger, the researchers will be collecting valuable data about the local ecology and animal populations. The field work began in April, 2017.

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ADOPTION CORNER

Available from TCRAS · Teller County Regional Animal Shelter

Available from San Luis Valley Animal Welfare Society

tcrascolorado.com · 719.686.7707 · NO-KILL shelter in Divide, Colorado

slvaws.org · 719.587.woof (9663) · Non-Profit NO-KILL Shelter

AGE: 5 y 11 m 29 d SEX: Female/Spayed Black/White Terrier, American Pit Bull/Mix Hi. My name is Ginger. I am a very pretty girl looking for a forever home. I LOVE people, but can be a bit selective with my K-9 friends. I have lived with children and had a great time with them.

I know my house manners.

Please come and meet me and you can see 1st hand how wiggly I am.

AGE: 2 y 0 m 20 d SEX: Female/Spayed Grey/White Domestic Shorthair/Mix Hi. My name is Sophie. I am a shy girl looking for a loving family that is willing to show me life is not so scary. I came into TCRAS as a stray with my kids. I love to hang with other cats. I would like to meet you and hopefully we can be friends.

ADOPTION FAIR Every Saturday 11am to 5pm Petco Colorado Springs 5020 N. Nevada

Maggie and Chance need a home together. They are still with the owner, but he is on work trips much of the time. Chance is a 3 year old husky/malamute; Maggie, 3-year-old Gordon Setter/Australian Cattle Dog. Both current on vaccinations, fixed. House trained, obedience trained, easy dogs who will need lots of exercise. Doggie door required.

Winnie is bird watching at Petco.

1-2 years old, spayed, plays with other dogs. 45 lbs.

Sweet pup.

Dodger Dodger. 3 year old Anatolian Shepherd/border collie mix. Loves to ride in the car and look out the windows. Very sweet, affectionate. Needs lots of room to run, likes to play with other dogs. Neutered. 80 lbs.

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IN THE GARDEN WITH KATIE

Cleaning up the perennial gardens at CWWC in April

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