The maned wolf is South America's largest canid and one of the most ecologically specialised — a solitary, omnivorous animal of open cerrado grassland that presents unique welfare challenges in zoo settings.
Maned wolves in captivity require careful management to address their specific welfare needs. Their long legs are adapted for tall grassland — enclosures should provide varied terrain and opportunities for extended locomotion rather than flat, uniform surfaces. As solitary territorial animals, they typically require individual or compatible-pair housing with adequate space to avoid chronic social stress. Their dietary omnivory requires access to a diverse range of fruits, particularly lobeira when available, alongside meat — monotonous carnivore diets cause nutritional imbalance and lack foraging stimulation. Cystinuria management requires dietary protein and mineral management to prevent the painful urinary stones that are common in captive individuals. Crepuscular activity patterns should be accommodated in exhibition and enrichment scheduling.