Orphaned Wolf Pups To Make Public Debut At Minn. Zoo
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Five orphaned gray wolf pups from Alaska will soon be making their public debut at the Minnesota Zoo.
The pups, who lost their mother in the Funny River Fire in Alaska, will be found along the Medtronic Minnesota Trail starting at 9 a.m. Thursday.
When they were 2 weeks old, the pups -- now named Gannett, Hooper, Huslia, Stebbius and X-Ray -- were found in an abandoned den near the fire on the Kenai Peninsula. Firefighters rescued the pups when the mother didn't return after two days.
The rescued pups were taken to the Alaska Zoo and rehabilitated, but there was no room for the wolves, so the Minnesota Zoo was chosen as their new home.
"We are very grateful to the Alaska Zoo for giving these pups such excellent care when they were first rescued, and to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for entrusting us with their permanent care. It is rewarding for us to once again be able to provide a home for orphaned Alaskan animals," Minnesota Zoo Collection Manager Tony Fisher said.
On Thursday, the Minnesota Zoo will also be welcoming the crew supervisor for the Gannett Glacier Fire Crew and coordinator of the rescue effort, Josh Leutzinger (pictured below). He will be reunited with the pups.
