The maned wolf is South America's largest canid — an iconic but little-understood species whose unique ecology creates specific welfare challenges in zoological settings.
Maned wolf welfare in zoos is shaped by dietary complexity and their solitary nature. Their unusual omnivorous diet — requiring significant fruit provision alongside protein sources — must be carefully managed in captivity. Captive maned wolves are highly susceptible to cystinuria, a metabolic disorder causing kidney stones linked partly to animal protein intake; low-protein, high-vegetable diets with adequate wolf apple or substitute fruits significantly reduce this risk. Social management must respect their naturally solitary lifestyle — pair housing is appropriate for breeding but permanent cohabitation causes stress. Enclosure design should provide extensive ground-level space for their long-legged, striding locomotion pattern; maned wolves are not climbers but require large ground areas and varied terrain for normal ranging behaviour. Their crepuscular and nocturnal activity peaks mean visitor access during daytime hours sees less natural behaviour; exhibits designed for evening access produce better welfare outcomes and visitor education.