Red wolf puppies at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. Photo: Courtesy of Museum of Life and Science
Two red wolves, a species under threat of extinction, were flown to the Triangle yesterday as part of a "wolf swap" meant to help rebuild the red wolf population.
Why it matters: There are only about 300 red wolves left, with the vast majority in captivity. The only wild-roaming red wolves are in eastern North Carolina.
Driving the news: The two red wolves flown to Durham's Museum of Life and Science came from the Wolf Conservation Center in New York.
As part of the swap, a family of five wolves (a mother, father and three pups) at the Durham museum will relocate to New York.
In New York, they will have more space to settle and hopefully will reproduce.
Zoom in: The hope is that the wolves coming to Durham will also reproduce as a breeding pair.
The female wolf, named Caroline, was actually born at the Museum of Life and Science.
The museum is partnering with the group Pilots to the Rescue to transport the wolves.
