Maned wolves are the largest dog family in South America. Because there are only 2,300 Maned wolves left, they are endangered. They have long faces and legs with large ears. Maned wolves are closer to a fox than a wolf. The adults are 3 feet tall and weigh about 50 lbs. Their life span is 10 years. The pups are born blind. They open their eyes when they are about 9 days old. They start finding their own food when they are 4-5 years old.

Maned wolves live in the grasslands, savannas, and swampy areas. They eat birds, reptiles, insects, small mammals, rodents, fruits, and vegetables. Maned wolves are becoming extinct because of disease. Programs like Little Rock Zoo are breeding them. There are some places where they keep the maned wolves. The owners give them diet dog food, mice, and rats to eat everyday. They give them bones, fruits, and vegetables once a week.

To help the Maned wolves not become extinct, go to this web site:

http://www.littlerockzoo.com/species/manedwolf.html

http://www.thewildones.org/Animals/manedWlf.html

http://www.lpzoo.com/tour/factsheets/mammals/maned_wolf.html