Students Visit the Wolf Conservation Center to Assist With Animal Care

Corley and Tiffany helped capture and sedate endangered male Mexican and Red Wolves so that their physical examinations and vaccinations could be administered. This is an important process as it is also when samples are gathered for DNA banking. The day-long process requires many people as the wolves can be difficult to capture.

The Wolf Conservation Center (WCC), which was founded in 1999 by Hélène Grimaud, is a private, not- for-profit environmental education organization located in South Salem, NY. Its mission is to promote wolf conservation by teaching about wolves, their relationship to the environment, and the human role in protecting their future.

The Wolf Conservation Center participates in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) and Recovery Plan for two critically endangered wolf species: the Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) and the red wolf (Canis rufus). The Mexican gray wolf and the red wolf are among the rarest mammals in North America, both species at one time were completely extinct in the wild. Presently there are approximately 400 Mexican gray wolves and 300 red wolves remaining in the world.

“This was an interesting and hands-on learning opportunity for students to see another animal conservation facility outside of the Trevor Zoo, with other vets and animal professionals,” said Kyleen Parajon, animal care coordinator at the Trevor Zoo. The opportunity for students to work with such a rare and endangered species, as well as to share their learned skills and knowledge from working at the Trevor Zoo, was truly unique to Millbrook.

Millbrook thanks the Wolf Conservation Center for inviting us to participate. Please visit our photo gallery for photographs from the visit.