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March 1, 2011
Maya, a seven-year-old resident female wolf at the International Wolf Center in
Ely, Minnesota, was euthanized Tuesday after a veterinary determination that a compound
fracture and dislocation to her left hind leg could not be repaired.
The decision to euthanize Maya was made in accordance with requirements of the
USDA Animal Welfare Act and an organizational euthanasia policy approved by the Center's
Vet Care Team. The Center would specifically like to thank veterinarians Stacy
Skoraczewski and Peter Hughes for their immediate help at a critical time.
"This was a very difficult decision for the staff and vet care team," said Executive
Director, Mary Ortiz. "Maya has been an important member of the Exhibit Pack since
2004, and she will be missed by us all."
In the past several months there have been several tests of status from the
younger pack members towards the dominant male, Grizzer, but Maya has shown intense
dominance control over the entire pack. The injury occurred sometime after 5 pm on
Monday, when the final daily check on the wolves revealed pack dynamics to be calm.
Challenging older animals for dominance is a common behavior in wolves. Wild wolf
packs are typically composed of parents and their offspring, so testing may be less
intense than in captivity. The inherent rank order behavior begins as young as 13
days of age, and is often seen when older pack members begin to age and show weakness,
opening an opportunity for younger animals to move up in rank.
Due to a recent cold spell, no active surveillance cameras on the pack were live
to capture the specific incident that led to Maya's injury. Icy conditions in the
enclosure may have been a factor, as active running animals can slip on ice creating
an injury that could be viewed as a weakness. Maya did have several bite wounds
apparent upon inspection, which may indicate involvement of other wolves.
In the absence of Maya, her littermate Grizzer may be vulnerable to the younger
animals and has been moved to a separate enclosure where he will retire from the exhibit.
"For those of you who would like to honor Maya, please consider a gift to the
Wolf
Care Fund in her memory. This fund goes directly to the continued care of current
and future wolf pack mates."
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ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER- The International Wolf Center, founded in 1985,
is known worldwide as the nation's premier source for wolf education. The mission of
the Center is to advance the survival of wolf populations by teaching about the wolf's
life, its relationship to wildlands and the human role in its future. The Center
educates through its Web site, www.wolf.org, its ambassador wolves, museum exhibits,
on-site adventure and outreach programs and International Wolf magazine. Its flagship
educational facility in Ely, MN, 1396 Highway 169, Ely, MN 55731. (Phone: 218-365-4695)
The Center's administrative and outreach offices are at 3410 Winnetka Ave North,
Minneapolis, MN 55427.
| MEDIA CONTACTS: |
| International Wolf Center |
International Wolf Center
E-mail: jjohnston@wolf.org
Phone: (218) 365-4695 (ext. 23)
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