The NC State College of Veterinary Medicine has welcomed three red wolf pups. The species is the most endangered wolf in the world.
One male and two female pups were born over Mother’s Day weekend, officially becoming part of the school’s wolfpack. This brings the total number of critically endangered red wolves being cared for at NC State from five to eight.
Dr. Tara Harrison is an associate professor at the school’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She says NC State is the only university in the country with a program for working with red wolves, which are native to North Carolina.
"And also, we have students that are heavily involved in this," says Harrison. "So we are teaching future veterinarians to care for wildlife and for wild animals with a critically endangered wolf."
She says the new pups are doing well, and that people are invited to track their progress on social media.
About 250 red wolves are currently being cared for at 41 partner facilities throughout the country.
Fewer than 30 live in the wild, all at a wildlife refuge on North Carolina’s coast.