Endangered painted wolf cubs at Michigan zoo

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The Binder Park Zoo in Michigan, the U.S., is celebrating the arrival of 11 extremely endangered painted wolf cubs.

A painted wolf cub at the Binder Park Zoo, Michigan, U.S. /VCG Photo

Born in November 2018, the cubs are healthy. They are reportedly receiving attentive care from their parents as well.

Two painted wolf cubs at the Binder Park Zoo, Michigan, U.S. /VCG Photo

The zoo staff is also monitoring their activities via closed-circuit cameras to ensure a safe and comfortable space for the cubs and their family.

The mother of the cubs at the Binder Park Zoo, Michigan, U.S. /VCG Photo

The father of the cubs at the Binder Park Zoo, Michigan, U.S. /VCG Photo

The painted wolf couple with their newborn cubs. /VCG Photo

The painted wolves are also known as the African painted dogs. They are canid natives to sub-Saharan Africa. Each wolf has its own unique coat pattern, and big, rounded ears.

They are highly social animals who live in packs. It is very rare to see solitary living and hunting in the species. Besides, they are also successful hunters, with over 60 percent of their hunting ending in a kill.

However, their population is fewer than 5000 and classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The painted wolves need a large area to hunt and many national parks are too small for them, so they move into unprotected areas and sometimes attack domestic animals, hence, a number of painted wolves are killed by local farmers. They are also threatened by diseases like rabies, human persecution, and habitat fragmentation.

(Cover: The mother of the cubs at the Binder Park Zoo, Michigan, U.S. /VCG Photo)