Maned wolves are solitary, wide-ranging canids from South American grasslands. Their welfare in captivity requires careful attention to space, diet, and social management.
Captive maned wolves face significant welfare challenges including insufficient space for natural ranging behavior, inappropriate diets lacking fruit variety, and forced proximity to conspecifics. Their distinctive fox-red coat and long legs are adaptations for tall grass habitats that cannot be replicated in standard zoo enclosures. Providing large, varied habitats with visual barriers, puzzle feeders, and fruit-rich diets substantially improves their quality of life.