Wolf euthanized

[Lee Borgersen]

/4/2011 2:02:00 PM  
  
 
Wolf euthanized at Ely facility

by Tom Coombe...... Ely Echo
 

The International Wolf Center has lost a member of its ambassador, exhibit pack.

Seven-year-old Maya was euthanized Tuesday after veterinarians determined that a broken left hind leg could not be repaired.

The cause of the injury could not be determined, but a news release issued by the IWC indicated that the wolf has several bite wounds apparent upon inspection "which may indicate involvement of other wolves."

IWC officials also said there were several tests of status from younger members of the exhibit pack toward the dominant male, Grizzer, but that Maya had shown intense dominance control over the entire pack.

The injury occurred sometime after 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday morning, when the injury was discovered.

Surveillance cameras were recently disabled by cold weather and had not been repaired, leaving no video clues of the incident.

Veterinarians Stacy Skoraczewski and Peter Hughes cared for the injured wolf Tuesday and found a compound fracture and dislocation to the left hind leg. The decision to euthanize Maya was made that day in accordance with requirements of the USDA Animal Welfare Act and an organizational euthanasia policy approved by the IWC's Vet Care Team.

"This was a very difficult decision for the staff and vet care team," said IWC Executive Director Mary Ortiz. "Maya has been an important member of the exhibit pack since 2004, and she will be missed by all."

IWC officials believe Grizzer may also be vulnerable to the younger animals and has been moved to a separate enclosure, retired from the exhibit pack and out of view from museum visitors.

Two other retired ambassador wolves can be viewed by camera at the IWC, while Aden and Denali remain part of the exhibit pack that can be viewed from the large-windowed exhibit area.

Jerrritt Johnston, education director at the IWC, said Wednesday that a partial necropsy completed at the Ely Vet Clinic "showed no clear evidence" of what cause Maya's injury.

In the news release, center officials speculated that icy conditions could have been a favor, as active running animals can slip on ice creating an injury that could be viewed as weakness.

Challenging older animals for dominance is a common behavior in wolves. Wild packs are typically composed of parents and their offspring, so testing may be less intense than in captivity.

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.

While the museum just outside of Ely is now down to just two exhibit wolves, Johnston said there are "no plans to immediately add any wolves to the exhibit pack."

"We have kind of a rotating schedule when we add pups," said Johnson.

The IWC, which opened in 1993, attracted between 36,000 and 38,000 visitors in 2010.
 


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[kenhuntin]

Sounds like wolves do not even like themselves. The wolf people preaching diversity should teach it to the wolves.