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A group of 10 critically endangered American red wolves made the journey from New York to North Carolina or vice versa on Tuesday as part of a nationwide conservation effort.
The exchange took place between Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, New York, and the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, North Carolina, and was facilitated by Pilots to the Rescue.
Three wolves, a breeding pair and a long female, made the move from New York to North Carolina, while a breeding pair and five puppies came to New York.
There are less than 30 American Red Wolves left in the wild population.
The exchange was made for the Save Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Each year, recommendations are made for breeding and exchange to help conserve and grow the population.
Rebecca Bose, curator of the Wolf Conservation Center, said more than 50 facilities are involved within the program to save the red wolf.
Bose said in order to get their wolves on the plane, they have to form a human chain of sorts to corral the wolves into a corner and get them into a crate for transport.
She said the wolves are so scared of humans they usually cooperate without problems, as humans at Wolf Conservation Center are very hands-off in their care.
“They [the wolves] live a very wild existence here,” Bose said.
“We use their fear of us as a tool to catch them.”
Bose said the biggest challenge is catching them quickly enough to make the plane.
Thankfully, Pilots To The Rescue doesn’t leave without them.
Some of these wolves could have the opportunity to be released into the wild down the line, so it’s very important to maintain their fear of people.
After landing in Raleigh, the three wolves were taken to the Museum of Life and Science by car, and Bose and her team picked up the wolf family and flew them back to New Jersey, and drove them back to New York.
The parents of the five pups actually came from Wolf Conservation Center previously, so this returned them to their original home.
The pups are about 7 or 8 months old, Bose said.
“We’re so excited to work with Pilots to the Rescue again. They have become a pivotal part of our work, helping us safely transport Red Wolves and connect them with facilities where they can play an important role in the future of their species. When we fly with them, the animals’ well-being is always the top priority, as they deserve,” Bose said.
“With fewer than 21 Red Wolves left in the wild, every step we take toward recovery matters.”
Pilots to the Rescue is a nonprofit that transports at-risk animals from under-resourced shelters to rescue organizations and adoption centers, where they can receive medical care, fostering and ultimately find loving homes.