Maned wolves are South American canids with unique dietary and spatial needs that make them challenging but rewarding subjects of zoo animal welfare programs.
Maned wolf welfare in zoos requires attention to their unusual dietary needs — unlike most canids, they are substantially frugivorous. Commercial diets supplemented with lobeira or guava fruit and varied protein sources are necessary. Their solitary nature means single or paired housing with careful introduction protocols. Large enclosures with varied substrates, including grassland-type areas that replicate cerrado habitat, support natural locomotor behavior. Scent marking is a significant natural behavior — vertical objects and multiple substrates for marking should be available. Olfactory enrichment with novel scents and foraging substrate engages natural investigatory and foraging behavior. Conservation education value is significant given the ongoing loss of the Brazilian cerrado ecosystem.