Happy Birthday, Urso! Maned wolf—a recent arrival who just turned 2—enjoys his party!

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications

Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

A celebration for Urso! This boy is now 2 years old!

Woodland Park Zoo is celebrating the birthday of one of its newest residents—Urso the maned wolf! Urso turned 2 just a few short months after arriving at the zoo along with 7-year-old female, Rosario.

Happy birthday, Urso!

Urso is very easy to spot since he lost his tail as a very young pup due to an injury. He is a very handsome maned wolf with striking red hair and bright eyes. Maned wolves often use their tails to communicate, but since Urso doesn’t have a tail, he uses other forms of communication when interacting with Rosario and animal keepers. Urso mainly communicates through facial expressions, ear placement and body posture. Both wolves had to adjust to communicating with each other, but they’re now great companions and have figured out how to let each other know when they want to play, rest or be left alone.

Maned wolves are omnivores, with a good portion of their natural diet consisting of fruits and vegetables. One of Urso's favorites is avocado!

Guests can visit Urso and Rosario at their grassy habitat in the Wildlife Survival Zone—right next to Carson the red panda. The long-legged canines are hard to miss, but mornings might be the best time to see them in action as they scope out their habitat each day.

Urso seemed to enjoy his birthday treats!

Maned wolf fun facts:

• Maned wolves are crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk.
• Maned wolves communicate with pungent scent marking, often mistaken for marijuana or skunk.
• Maned wolves are the tallest wild canid. Helllooo up there!
• Roar-barks, whines and growls are just a few of the maned wolf’s vocalizations, but they are typically pretty quiet.

Here is, female, Rosario with her fluffy white tail.

This near-threatened species is managed under the Maned Wolf Species Survival Plan, a cooperative breeding program across accredited zoos to help ensure a healthy, self-sustaining population of the species. In addition, maned wolves are a SAFE species. Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program engages AZA-accredited facilities, government agencies, and public and private stakeholders in actions that support maned wolf conservation throughout the species’ range. Woodland Park Zoo and collaborating institutions are working together to advocate for habitat preservation and protections, educate the public about ways to take action for maned wolves and celebrate these incredible animals. Urso and Rosario will not be breeding but will be good playmates and companions for each other.