Maned wolves are solitary, wide-ranging South American canids with specialized dietary needs. Captive welfare requires large spaces, varied diets and careful social management.
Maned wolf welfare in captivity is shaped by their solitary nature, dietary specialization and large spatial needs. Forced cohabitation with incompatible individuals causes chronic stress in a species evolved for solitary ranging. Dietary management must include fruit components — particularly the lobeira fruit — alongside protein sources to prevent nutritional deficiency. The hereditary cystinuria condition requires dietary management to prevent urinary tract disease. Enrichment should emphasise olfactory stimulation and territory marking opportunities. Facilities that provide large, complex enclosures with appropriate diet management and careful social protocols achieve good welfare outcomes for this distinctive species.