(Schnecksville, PA) – Lehigh Valley Zoo is “howling” for conservation with the addition of a female Mexican Gray Wolf. Five-year-old Magdalena has officially joined the Lehigh Valley Zoo from the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, New York.

During the LV Zoo’s temporary closure, Magdalena was fully introduced to the other members of the pack and her personality has truly began to shine. Known as “Maggie” by her keepers, she is super athletic, adventurous and, since she likes to get into everything she isn’t supposed to, she has earned the nicknamed “Queen Troublemaker.” This playful danger pup can often be seen carrying around a pumpkin stem given to her by her keepers as part of her enrichment, which she then takes into her house at night.

The addition of a female wolf to the LV Zoo has the Mexican Grey Wolf pack again figuring out its pack dynamic, which includes two other males who are 13-year-old brothers. In wolf packs, there is an alpha male and female. This past February, the Zoo’s pack leader, Alpha, passed away. The addition of a female wolf will allow the Zoo’s Mexican Gray Wolf pack to evolve again naturally as she assumes the role of leader and restores the pack dynamic.

Due to their geriatric age, the males receive special diets and care. It costs $57.50 to feed our pack of three each week.

While Maggie is not a compatible genetic match for the two other members of the current pack, she could possibly be paired with a suitable mate for breeding purposes in the future under the recommendation of the Species Survival Plan in accordance with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). It is our hope to one day hear wolf pups howling alongside their parents at the LV Zoo! This will further help the mission of saving the Mexican Gray Wolf subspecies from extinction.

In honor of the addition of a female wolf and in memory of Alpha, LV Zoo will be making a donation to the Wolf Conservation Center.

The LV Zoo is one of approximately 50 zoos and conservation centers helping to rehabilitate Mexican Gray Wolves. This subspecies was nearly brought to extinction by widespread trapping and poisoning in the early 1900s. After reintroducing Mexican Gray Wolves, there are just over 113 in the wild and approximately 300 in the captive breeding program. By supporting AZA accredited zoos and aquariums, you can help save species like the Mexican Gray Wolf.

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As a member-supported non-profit organization, Lehigh Valley Zoological Society was founded in 2004, but as a treasured community landmark, the Zoo’s history spans over a century. Founded in 1906 by General Harry C. Trexler, a local industrialist, the Lehigh Valley’s Trexler Game Preserve has educated and entertained more than five million people.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Lehigh Valley Zoo hosts year-round, family-friendly events and activities, educational programs, and camps. With a mission to create a safe, engaging and enlightening wildlife experience for guests of all ages, the Zoo demonstrates leadership in the cultural, scientific and conservation communities. To learn more about Lehigh Valley Zoo, we invite you to visit our website, www.lvzoo.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.