#NatZooZen: Training with Maned Wolves Mateo and Quito
Description:
Grab a bite to eat with our maned wolves, Mateo and Quito! Cheetah Conservation Station keeper Adam Freedman asks them to “station,” or place their feet on a rubber food dish. When they do this, he rewards them with meatballs, frozen-thawed mice and capelin fish. He holds two dishes—one for each wolf—to ensure they are receiving all of their respective prey items. This practice ensures the boys don’t fight over food and helps build trust with their keepers. Station training allows keepers to get a close look at the animals’ body conditions, administer medications (via the food they eat), move between their indoor enclosure and outdoor habitat, and encourage them to climb upon a scale so keepers can monitor their weights. The latter a critical component of preventative healthcare with this species, which is prone to gastrointestinal conditions.
