September 17, 2026

For Immediate Release – September 17, 2026

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

Nikki Stoudt, Manager of Marketing and Communications
(704) 689-7667
nikki.stoudt@lifeandscience.org

Photos of current Red Wolf family

DURHAM, NC — The Museum of Life and Science announced today that its family of seven critically endangered Red Wolves will relocate to the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, NY, later this fall as part of an ongoing national effort to support the conservation and genetic diversity of the species.

The leadership of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) American Red Wolf program has determined that first-time parents Carolina (2293F) and Jacques (2152M) remain a genetically valuable breeding pair and could have another litter in 2027. The move will allow the family to remain together while providing additional space for the wolves to continue growing.

“Every Red Wolf transfer is guided by what will have the greatest benefit for the species and for the individual animals,” said Sherry Samuels, Senior Director of Animal Care at the Museum of Life and Science. “For Carolina and Jacques, that means allowing them to raise another litter while providing their growing family with more room. We’re grateful to be part of a program where institutions work together toward that shared goal.”

Carolina and Jacques welcomed five pups on May 5, 2026. The pups, Cane, Champ, Puck, Stormy, and Whaler, were named by public online suggestions celebrating the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2026 Stanley Cup championship.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the Museum this fall to see the family before their October departure and wish them well in their next chapter. The Museum will receive another of the Wolf Conservation Center’s mated Red Wolf pairs, Sabine (2506F) and Mac Tíre (2274M), continuing its role in the species’ conservation program.

“Red Wolf conservation depends on organizations coming together and making thoughtful decisions about where individual animals can make the greatest contribution to the program,” Samuels said. “We’re proud of the role the Museum has played in that effort and look forward to getting to know Sabine and Mac Tíre while continuing to provide a home for Red Wolves here in Durham.”

The Museum of Life and Science has participated in Red Wolf conservation efforts since 1992 through partnerships with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Red Wolf Recovery Program and the SAFE American Red Wolf program through the AZA. The coordinated movement of animals among participating facilities helps support the managed population’s genetic diversity and long-term conservation goals.

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 80 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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