The maned wolf is a uniquely adapted South American canid that presents distinctive welfare challenges in captivity due to its solitary nature, large range, and specialized diet.
Maned wolves in captivity suffer from multiple welfare challenges simultaneously: inadequate space for their large home ranges, social pressure from being kept near other animals when they are naturally solitary, and dietary deficiencies that cause significant health problems. Cystinuria-related bladder stones are a direct welfare harm linked to captive diet inadequacy. Improving maned wolf welfare requires both better diet management and larger, quieter exhibit spaces that respect their solitary nature.