Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is excited to announce the arrival of two critically endangered American Red Wolves, Bronto (male) and River (female), who are joining the Zoo’s Red Wolf Woods habitat as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) SAFE American Red Wolf program.

Bronto and River are arriving from the Zoo’s off-site Red Wolf facility and will make their home on the left side of Red Wolf Woods. Their arrival represents an important step in the Zoo’s ongoing commitment to protecting one of North America’s most endangered mammals.

While Bronto and River were carefully selected to live at the Zoo due to their calm, adaptable disposition, neither Red Wolf is accustomed to seeing large numbers of people. Their move to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium marks a major transition, with new surroundings, new sights and sounds, and the beginning of a brand-new partnership.

The Red Wolf habitat, Red Wolf Woods, chronicles the nearly 60-year effort to save the Red Wolf and inspires guests to get involved in protecting endangered species locally and worldwide. With a forest of hardwood trees, low grasses and shrubs, a stream, and dens, the habitat is designed to mimic the Red Wolves’ native habitat.

River was born in May 2022 at the Zoo’s off-site Red Wolf facility and is larger than the average female Red Wolf and carries herself with quiet confidence. Over the past year, River lived with her brother in a lively partnership filled with playful chases and spirited interactions. With her brother now part of a breeding pair, River is beginning an exciting new chapter alongside Bronto.

Bronto was born in April 2019 and has a condition called cryptorchidism, which means his testes are located inside of his abdomen, rendering him infertile. While he will not be part of the breeding population, Bronto will still play an important role in the Red Wolf program as a stable, compatible companion for non-breeding females.

American Red Wolves are among the most endangered canids in the world, with fewer than a few dozen remaining in the wild. Once common throughout the southeastern United States, the Red Wolf was nearly wiped out in the 1970s, with only 14 in human care, and was declared extinct in the wild. Today, 50 approved facilities work together as part of AZA’s SAFE American Red Wolf program to ensure Red Wolf survival. The SAFE population has grown to about 280 wolves, and there are only around 28-31 in the wild.

By welcoming Bronto and River, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium continues its mission to care for wildlife, support species survival, and connect guests with powerful conservation stories, starting with patience, empathy, and respect for two wolves beginning a new life together.