Maned Wolf

Chrysocyon brachyurus

The maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus, is a long-legged South American canid of the cerrado, grasslands, marsh edges, and open scrub of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and nearby regions. Despite the name, it is not a true wolf; it is the only living species in its genus. Adults have a red-gold coat, black legs, large ears, and a raised dark mane that can make them look taller when alarmed. They are usually solitary or pair-bonded over a territory and eat a mixed diet of small mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and fruit, especially the tomato-like lobeira or wolf apple.

Zoos and sanctuaries house maned wolves in quiet, spacious enclosures with dry resting areas, cover, and room for scent-marking and long walking patrols. Diets often combine animal protein with produce and fiber, and many programs pay close attention to urinary health because the species can be prone to cystine stone problems. Breeding pairs may need careful introductions and secluded denning sites. Conservation work in the wild tracks habitat conversion, road mortality, domestic dog disease, fire regimes, and conflicts with poultry keepers, often using camera traps, GPS collars, and community outreach.