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Annual Report Wild Canid Survival and Research Center Annual Report Fiscal Year January 1-December 31, 2009 Animal Care: Providing an Alternative to Extinction has been a powerful and inspiring motto since the Wild Canid Center’s founding in 1971 by Marlin and Carol Perkins. Thirty-eight years later the Center still stands firm by its mission:dedicated to the preservation of the wolf and other wild canids through captive breeding, education and research. The Center is especially acclaimed for its husbandry protocols and techniques that produce captive born canids that are successful at transitioning to a life in the wild. In 2009 we continued to figure prominently in the return of the Mexican gray wolves to the wilds of Arizona and New Mexico. All of the packs running wild in these states are led by Wild Canid Center born lobos or their offspring. One such example is a wolf named “Laredo” (806). Laredo was born at Wild Canid in the spring of 2003 and by 2006 he was roaming the Gila National Forest in east- ern Arizona as a free-ranging wild wolf. Today in 2009 Laredo is the alpha male of the Bluestem Pack and has produced and reared 2 litters in the wild with his mate #521. In addition, we continued in 2009 to spearhead several of the Mexican Wolf SSP (Species Survival Plan) three-year action plan projects which focus around furthering our knowledge and application of assisted reproductive techniques. In addition to spearheading assisted reproduction research in Mexican grays the Center participates in a number of projects and research initiatives by a variety of entities such as the USFWS, universities and other SSP’s; a complete list of 2009 participation is listed in a chart on page two. All research participation is reviewed and sanctioned by each species SSP management group as well as WCC’s research participation committee. Research initiatives often have direct and practical husbandry outcomes that help captive managers better care for and manage these critically endangered remnant populations of canids. Most are centered around finding better assisted reproductive techniques and analysis, behavioral enrichment, The Wild Canid Center currently works with five species of endangered wild canids. This Fun Facts chart depicts the starting collection composition at the beginning of the year and then Our Keepers worked hard in 2009! the final collection composition at the end of the year. The first number depicts the total they fed out... number of animals Wild Canid holds of that species. The numbers in parenthesis depicts the sex ratio of that total number (males.females eg. 9.14 = 9 males and 14 females) over 40,000lbs of dry chow Common Name Genus and Species Jan. 1 Dec. 31 520 chicks and rats Mexican Gray Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) = 22(9.13) 28(13.15) 76 deer carcasses Red Wolf (Canis rufus) = 3(1.2) 2(1.1) chopped over 800lbs of produce Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) = 4(2.2) 2(1.1) and picked up a lot of scat! African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) = 4(4.0) 4(4.0) Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) = 1(1.0) 1(1.0) Our wolves ate well in 2009 because of the continued gen- Animal Acquisitions: erosity of: Purina Mills Inc. who donated the dry chow diet, Zerna May 20 (5.2) Mexican gray wolves-Saddle Pack (732,797,1049-1052,1167) Meats who donated bones for arrived from Sevilleta, NM enrichment and Gail Meyers who provided the fruits and vegeta- Animal Dispositions: bles for the maned wolves and certified bowhunters of St. Louis January 23 (0.1) Mexican gray wolf Tanamara (547) died March 13 (0.1) Red wolf Tala (819) died Wild Canid Center hosted 4 college May 20 (1.0) Mexican gray wolf -Nagual (968) transferred to pre-release facility interns in our animal care department Sevilleta, NM in 2009 from; SIU-Carbondale, Truman Oct 26 (0.1) Swift fox Skye (1441) died State University, University of MO-Co- lumbia and Abilene Christian University. Animal Care Department (continued): Membership and Development: 2009 Project Participation: Breeding Observation Research The WCC membership and development departments worked hard in 2009 to keep the wolves fed and happy and they couldn’t do that with- Long term research began in 1996. Mexican gray wolf SSP(MGWSSP) and St. Louis Zoo - behavioral observations correlated with fecal out the loyal and giving donors and members of the Wild Canid Center. Our Membership program continues to grow with the most popular hormone analysis to determine non-invasive techniques to detect female ovulation/receptivity. program being the Adopt-a-Wolf level of membership. Semen Evaluation/Freezing In June, aclaimed actress Betty White and famous animal activist, Jack Hanna were our guest speakers at “An Evening with Wild Canid” and On going research - MGWSSP and St. Louis Zoo - evaluation and cryopreservation of Mexican wolf semen for future artificial insemination received the Perkins’ Partner in Conservation award medal. The event was held in 2009 at the Kemp Auto Museum and Mrs. White and Mr. and preservation of genetic material. Hanna entertained the audience by performing a rendition of the Late Night Show! Additional events that took place were our very popular Genetics/Blood Banking spring Trivia Night, 23rd annual Open House, 17th annual Members’ Day, and 16th annual Holiday Boutique. USFWS, MGWSSP and University of New Mexico - Blood samples from every Mexican gray wolf collected during annual exams are being reposited at the University of New Mexico for genetic data and historical value. The WCC continued to take part in the national work place giving program known as Earth Share. Earth Share of Missouri serves over seventy Hair and Tissue Banking independent, non-profit environmental and conservation organizations. MGWSSP and University of Montana - Hair and tissue sampling used to examine genetic variation in genes that affect fitness via things like We continued to execute our Grow Wild captital campaign for our new home in Labarque Creek. The 583 acre property located in Jefferson disease, reproduction and energy metabolism, which will be part of a larger project examining the genomic basis of inbreeding depression County was purchased in 2004. 154 of the 583 acres were sold to the Department of Conservation in December of 2008. The property was in the future. divided by state highway FF and the 154 acres on the south side of the highway was not intended to be developed by the Center. The remain- Maned Wolf Nutrition Research ing 429 acres will be the future site of the WCC. With the Maned Wolf SSP- blood samples were taken during annual exams for evaluation. Vaccine Efficacy USDA- blood samples from all Mexican gray wolves during annual exams collected to test the longevity of parvovirus and distemper vac- cinations. Wild Canid Center 2009 Expenses: 2009 Board of Trustees Where do the funds go? Chairman: Mr. Bryan Swift (2011) Education Department: Vice Chairman: Mr. Tom Altwies (2010) Treasurer: Mr. Cliff Garland (2009) The Wild Canid Center education department works hard to get the Cen- Income From Education Programs Secretary: Mr. Steve Akley (2010) ter’s mission and education message out to as many people as possible. Trustees: The backbone of the education department are its more than 40 dedicated volunteers. WCC volunteers are one-of-a-kind, special people who put Ms. Nelda Davis (2009) in more than 5,700 collective hours of service in 2009. They conducted Ms. Marguerite Garrick (2009) 56 outreaches and over 335 on-site programs. Ms. Kathleen Lowry (2011) 2009 attendance for our educational outreaches and on-site visitation Ms. Joann MacKenzie (2011) was over 38,000! This does not include attendance to special events like Ms. Nancy McCahan (2011) Members’ Day and Open House. The two largest sources of income from Ms. Wendy Turner (2010) education programs was almost evenly split between our evening wolf Terms of service are listed in paretheses howls and on-site daytime visits. after each member; terms are three years By tracking phone and e-mail inquiries to find out what programs people unless otherwise noted. In 2009 board are most interested in we discovered that 47% of inquiries are about our Who We Are Reaching... meetings were held: February 21, May 15, educational programs. In 2009 the web site averaged 308 hits per day August 21 and October 16th. which is a 135% increase over 2008. Wild Canid Center 2009 Revenue: Board meetings were held quarterly at The education department hosted five high school interns in 2009. Three United Van Lines at One United Drive, Fen- worked as camp counselors during the Camp Rendezvous and Junior Where do the funds come from? ton, MO 63026 Keeper Summer Camps and two took part in Project Interface, a Rockwood School District program where seniors get to work with professionals in the field in relation to their career interests. 2009 Staff: Executive Director: Dr. Susan Lindsey, Ph.D. Assistant Director: Kimberly Scott What Do People Want to Know? Development Director:Denise Nueh- ring and How We Are Reaching Them... Education Director: Pamela Rout Office Manager: Melissa Thomas Development Associate: Michele Wallace Curator: Jackie Fallon Animal Keepers: Erin Czapla Tracy Rein 2009 Net Assets Sarah Kucharski “The strength of the Pack is the Wild Canid Center P.O. Box 760 Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf Eureka, MO 63025 www.wildcanidcenter.org is the Pack.” - Rudyard Kipling (636) 938-5900 / (636) 938-6490 fax [email protected].
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