AKRON, Ohio — *Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous report.
For the first time in Akron Zoo history, the facility is home to critically endangered red wolf pups.
The Zoo's female red wolf Juno and male, Waya mated to produced eight pups born on Thursday, April 22.
Because red wolves are critically endangered, with fewer than 20 estimated to be left in their natural habitat, four of the pups have been designated to the Red Wolf Recovery Plan. The Plan, led by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS), the pups are cross fostered into a den in their natural habitat.
The pups, two males and two females, were transported to their foster den in North Carolina on Saturday, May 1. According to USFWS officials the introduction was successful.
The addition of the new pups is the first time red wolf pups have been reintroduced into their native habitat since 2014.
The new pups transition into the program also allowed for the release of four adult red wolves from three different facilities: Endangered Wolf Center, Wolf Conservation Center and Wolf Haven International.
The four red wolf pups remaining at the Akron Zoo including three males and one female; zookeepers say they are doing "very well."
The pups are currently living in a den box in a private habitat. The pups may begin venturing out of the den box around the end of May, and guests may begin to see the pups in the red wolf habitat in June.
As first-time parents, Juno is an excellent mother, while Waya is extremely protective of his new family and offering Juno great support.
For more information on the red wolf pups or the Akron Zoo, click here.