The Wilds Dholes

Ituri

Ituri

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
I came across this news release from last July
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2007

The Wilds Announces Opening of New Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center July 6
Cumberland, OH (June 14, 2007) – The Wilds, one of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers in the world, announces the opening of its new Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center.

“The development of the Carnivore Center is an important milestone for the Wilds,” said Executive Director Dr. Evan Blumer. “It’s a critical step forward in our advancement of conservation efforts supporting rare and endangered carnivore species at our facility.”

The first phase of the 60-acre facility has been supported by a combination of state, federal, and private funding.

“It is the only facility of its kind in this country, maybe even the world, dedicated to mid-sized carnivores,” said Blumer. “The large enclosures support naturalistic group sizes and behaviors, and the facility’s design integrates the technical aspects of research with visitor experiences.”

While work takes place to complete the center for its July 6 opening, Wilds visitors are welcome to depart a Safari Transport vehicle to preview the first cheetahs and African wild dogs now at the center.

The Carnivore Center features elevated walkways and a second-story observation area for excellent viewing of the animals in large enclosures, each several acres in size.

“Some species, like the cheetah, have particular difficulty breeding in captivity,” said Dr. Barbara Wolfe, director of Wildlife & Conservation Medicine. “We’re hoping that the placid, open spaces of the Wilds make them feel more at ease and improve breeding success in these spectacular animals.”

Additional boardwalks, viewing platforms, and viewable animal management and research areas are currently in their final construction phase. Visitor amenities like restrooms and cold beverages and snacks are available at the site.

“One of the exciting things we have planned is a cheetah run – a mechanical device with a cloth lure used to exercise the cheetahs,” said Dan Beetem, director of Animal Management.

“We can have them run up to about 40 miles per hour for a few hundred yards,” said Beetem. “This stimulates the cheetahs both physically and mentally. They don’t get to do that in typical zoo settings.”

The cheetah run will be demonstrated to the public for the first time during the July 6 opening. The opening celebration will also feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony with invited community leaders and Wilds staff.

The Wilds is planning to add more cheetahs and its first group of dholes, a canine from Asia, in the near future. These additions will complete the first phase of the Wilds’ carnivore conservation program.

Future Carnivore Center plans include the completion of 22 large animal enclosures, facilities for veterinary care, research and intensive animal management, and enhanced visitor amenities.

The Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center is one of four destination stops on the Wilds’ new Safari Transport shuttle system, which takes visitors through the Wilds’ unique open range habitat areas to view rare and endangered species such as rhinos, giraffes, and antelope. Other stops on the guided transport include the Lake Trail, Outpost, and Wetland area.

Open-Air Safaris and Sunset Safaris are also available to visitors. Both include stops at the Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center.

The mission of the Wilds is to advance conservation through science, education, and personal experience. Located in southeast Ohio near Cumberland in Muskingum County, the Wilds is home to rare and threatened wildlife from around the world.

General visitor hours for Safari Transport tours at the Wilds are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday in June, July, and August, and weekends only in September and October. Sunset Safaris are available by reservation every Saturday evening June through September.

Further information is available by visiting The Wilds: Advancing Conservation through Science, Education & Personal Experience.
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Does anyone know the status of their plans to acquire dholes?
 
The Wilds currently has three dhole (2.1), which arrived from Toronto in Spetember of last year. These animals are from the only successful breeding of this species at the Toronto Zoo - two litters born in 2006. The Wilds was also looking at acquiring some from San Diego (the only other holder in North America), but the first shipment was cancelled due to medical issues.
 
Interesting. Thanks Ungulate. It would be really great to see this species in more North American zoos.
 
The dholes in Toronto are from populations at Howletts and Twycross in the UK, and are only listed to the species level. However, with only 11 dhole in North America right now, trying to keep the generic/subspecific dholes apart may mean that both are doomed. (The population may be too small as it is to really be viable. All of the Toronto/Wilds animals are closely related - our two breeding females are sisters, and all of the offspring are thus either full-sibs, or half-sibs/half-cousins)
 
Are the females still Mary and Pat?
 
I really would like to see more zoos in the US work with the species and maybe even get some more imported. They are really a fascinating animal, but I guess not many zoos are building geographic exhibits that they'd fit in too well, and then there's the supposition that the public wouldn't think them anything other than just wolves making them less desirable for any zoos to put forth the expenditure on. Then again, African wild dogs have sure spread in US zoos, so I guess it's not that far fetched. They just need to be marketed correctly. Could we convince Disney to feature them in an animated film? ;)
 
Fingers tightly crossed that some more can be imported. The dholes at the Toronto Zoo are my favorite animals, I would hate to see the species fade away in our North American zoos.
 
They have dholes at San Diego? Where? I am a member and was there a couple times last summer and I don't recall ever seeing them.
 
The dholes in San Diego live off-exhibit at the Wild Animal Park. Though it would appear there are plans to put them on exhibit in the old lion exhibit next to the tigers.
 
Are there currently dholes at the Wilds and if so are they ever on display? They mentioned them on the tour but I didn't see any traces of them.
 
From the photos in the gallery, the dholes also look like from China, because their hair is longer than those from south Asia.
 
Ungulate said:
The Wilds currently has three dhole (2.1), which arrived from Toronto in Spetember of last year. These animals are from the only successful breeding of this species at the Toronto Zoo - two litters born in 2006. The Wilds was also looking at acquiring some from San Diego (the only other holder in North America), but the first shipment was cancelled due to medical issues.
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The Minnesota Zoo has dholes as well.
 
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