2019 is the Year of the wolf at the Magnetic Hill Zoo. To celebrate, the zoo decided to revamp the nearly 20 year old arctic wolf exhibit.
The new enclosure is larger and features two new window observatories.
Tessa Wheaton is the president of the Friends of the Magnetic Hill Zoo, she says the new enclosure has many advantages.
“It’s an improvement not only for the animals because it gives them a little more space and a little more space to explore but it’s going to help the visitor experience, it gives them more opportunity to really see the animals in a safe environment,” says Wheaton.
Visitors will also get a chance to learn more about wolves and canines in general through a trail that includes a new series of educational panels.
Elder Peter Jadis of Elsipogtog First Nation and D.J. Joseph, a member of the Moncton Cultural Board were there to bless the grounds during the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The unveiling happened to fall on National Indigenous Peoples Day, which tied in nicely with the significant place that wolves hold in native culture.
Although they don’t have quite as much room in captivity as they would in the wild, zookeeper Bernard Gallant says they don’t need it.
They typically need thousands of kilometers to hunt for food. In captivity, they are fed. What they needed was more room to run!
Their new inclosure is triple the size of the old one, they now have over 1,500 square feet.
Gallant says despite not having physical barriers in the wild, wolves still have boundaries and can risk their life by stepping into another pack’s territory.
Like many of the animals at the zoo, Arctic wolves face a threat of endangerment.
Climate change is affecting their natural environment and to their food supply.
As humankind’s need for more continues to grow, the habitats of many species are shrinking.
Zookeeper Bernard Gallant says the best way to help the wolves and endangered animals is for each one of us to do our part in being environmentally aware.
Gallant says the easiest thing to do is simply reduce, reuse and recycle. By protecting the environment, we also protect the animals that live in it.
He hopes that by giving people the opportunity to see and learn about their situation and be inspired to help them.
