The Beautiful Maned Wolf

I finally got to see one of the two new maned wolves at the San Diego Zoo. Isadora and Bravo are a breeding pair, and that means the hope of some little maned wolf pups in the future! Shy and beautiful creatures, it's been said that the maned wolf looks like a fox on stilts. It’s the tallest of the wild canids, standing 35 inches at the shoulder on average. Actually, it’s not a wolf or a fox, but is the only species in the genus Chrysocyon (meaning “golden dog”). They can be found in central South America and are classified as Near Threatened. The maned wolf is named for the mane-like strip of black fur running from the back of the head to the shoulders, which stands up when danger is sensed.