Photo by clare jensen
WOLF SANCTUARY. Visitors to the Red Wolf Woods ground-breaking event look over a model of what the exhibit should look like for visitors in spring 2010.
In spring 2010 six red wolves will call the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium (PDZA) home again. If it were 1970, that would be almost half of the nation’s entire population of the animal. Back then, there were only 14 known red wolves in the country. Today, because of concerted conservation efforts amongst zoos and private partners, the number of red wolves has grown to nearly 300, with more than a quarter of those wolves in PDZA-operated facilities in Pierce County.
In order to continue the conservation and restoration of the once near-extinct animal, the zoo is beefing up its breeding programs, as well as creating a new educational zoo exhibit showcasing the red wolves’ brush with extinction and restoration to this point.
On Oct. 12 PDZA broke ground on the new exhibit, which will open to the public in spring 2010. The Puyallup Tribe committed to granting $137,000 to the $1 million project, and PDZA can reapply to the Tribe each year for additional financial support of the exhibit.
“The gift of this land is our responsibility,” Puyallup Tribal Cultural Coordinator Connie McCloud said at the groundbreaking ceremony prior to blessing the land. “When we take care of our water, our land and our animals, we will continue on as human beings.”
The severe drop in wolf populations during the 1970s created a major void in the natural ecosystem of North America. PDZA has been a leader in red wolf conservation efforts since then, and was the home of the first zoo-born red wolf pups.
The recovery program for the wolves is currently housed in Graham near a 400-home development and is no longer suitable for the wolves. PDZA recently secured a $691,000 federal grant, and will soon be relocating the recovery program to a more secure location at Northwest Trek in Eatonville.
The educational exhibit at the zoo will not only create awareness of the conservation and restoration of the red wolf, but also hopefully inspire zoo visitors to be more aware of endangered species and active in conservation efforts of other animals.
“The Red Wolf Woods (exhibit) will showcase the great progress we have made in red wolf conservation efforts over the last 40 years, and will encourage (further) conservation efforts,” said Congressman Norm Dicks, a long-time supporter of the red wolf restoration project in Pierce County.
The 7,600-square-foot location will more than double the zoo’s previous exhibit and will include the science behind animal recovery and the importance of personal involvement in such efforts.
“We are responsible for the extinction of the animal,” McCloud said. “We need to continue to work together and recognize there is a purpose. We need our children to know and understand that responsibility.”
For more information on the recovery program of the Red Wolf Woods exhibit, call (253) 591-5337.
Commenting rules
Tacoma Weekly is happy to provide a forum for commenting and discussion. Please respect and abide by the house rules:
Keep it clean, keep it civil, keep it truthful, stay on topic, be responsible, share your knowledge, and please suggest removal of comments that violate these standards.
Read full commenting rules