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Next time you and the family want to do a day trip to enjoy nature and wildlife, perhaps head to Albany. Their Chehaw Park & Zoo was awarded nearly $3,000 to help cover the costs of caring for endangered species. They were one of 20 parks and zoos in the U.S. to get the funds.
Chejaw is home to 9 other endangered species but the red wolves are at highest risk due to destruction of their natural habitats.
Park Spokesperson Tommy Gregors said despite the pandemic which seriously impacted their revenue stream: “We still had to feed and care for every animal in our collection."
Trying to increase a healthy population, they help with breeding and the reintroduction process.
″Had pups that were born here of which some of those were actually in the re-introduction into the wild program. You won’t see animals here doing tricks and those things here. When we do conditioning, it’s to enhance natural behaviors and enrich their lives while they’re in our care,” said Gregors.
To help with reimbursement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums awarded Chehaw nearly $3,000.
Gregory said they are monitoring the two wolves they have in the exhibit now to hopefully add a few more pups to the species. Check out more on their Facebook pages, linked below, and a local story and video you can find here.