September 9, 2024

For Immediate Release – September 9, 2024

Media Contacts:
Ro Rode, Direcor of Marketing and Communications
(561) 596-1410
ro.rode@lifeandscience.org

Simone Guthrie, VP of Marketing and Communications
(561) 574-1224
simone.guthrie@lifeandscience.org

Photos of current Red Wolf Family

DURHAM, NC – The Museum of Life and Science today announced the transfer of the family of seven critically endangered Red Wolves to the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, NY, this October.

The move comes following the Red Wolf SAFE program’s determination that first-time parents Adeyha (M2080) and Oak (F2304) are still a genetically valuable pair and should breed again in 2025.

Sherry Samuels, Senior Director of Animal Care at the Museum, noted, “This is the best plan for our current family of Red Wolves. While it is bittersweet to see them move on, there is excitement that the family will remain together. The habitat at Wolf Conservation Center is three times their current environment, and this will allow the family to continue to grow next year.”

After a successful breeding season in 2024, mom Oak and dad Adeyha produced five pups — Juniper, Cedar, Sassafras, Maple, and Tupelo — on April 21, 2024. Recently named in a public vote, the pups’ names feature native North Carolina trees while also paying homage to their mother and father. Visitors are encouraged to visit soon to see the pups and say their goodbyes before they embark on this new journey. In exchange, the Museum will welcome a mated pair of Red Wolves, Oka (M2048) and Martha (F2242).

Sherry also expressed the importance of this move: “This relocation is a key part of our efforts to help ensure the survival of this critically endangered species. We’re excited to continue our conservation work with Oka and Martha.”

The Museum has been a leader in Red Wolf conservation through partnerships with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Red Wolf Recovery Program and the AZA’s SAFE initiative. This relocation will further contribute to nationwide conservation efforts.

About the Museum of Life and Science
Located less than five miles from downtown Durham, the Museum of Life and Science is one of North Carolina’s top family destinations. Our 84-acre campus includes a two-story science center, one of the largest butterfly conservatories on the East Coast, and beautifully landscaped outdoor exhibits. Our interactive experiences include Dinosaur Trail, Ellerbe Creek Railway, Hideaway Woods, Into the Mist, Earth Moves, and Aerospace, which features one of the largest collections of Apollo-era NASA artifacts in the state. The Museum is also an AZA-accredited zoo, home to rescued black bears, lemurs, endangered red wolves, and more than 60 species of live animals. For more than 75 years, the Museum has upheld its ongoing commitment to the communities of Durham, the Triangle, and North Carolina through programming, engagement, and research. To learn more, visit lifeandscience.org.

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