Maned wolves are South America's largest canid and require specialized care in zoos, including large territories, specific diets featuring fruit as well as meat, and careful social management.
Maned wolves present distinctive welfare challenges in zoo settings. Their extensive wild territories cannot be replicated, making behavioral enrichment and space utilization critical. As primarily solitary animals, housing pairs together outside breeding season can cause chronic social stress — pairs should have the option to separate. Dietary management is particularly important: their high fruit intake in the wild must be reflected in captive diets, and protein sources must be carefully chosen to minimize cystinuria risk, which can be fatal if untreated. Maned wolves are typically crepuscular and nocturnal, meaning standard daytime zoo hours offer limited behavioral observation; facilities should consider management strategies that support natural activity patterns. Exhibit design should incorporate tall vegetation to allow the natural behavior of peering over grass, as well as ample room for trotting exercise.