On March 22, 2005, I was out all day as it was my day off, but when I returned, I had an email from my substitute caretaker... It was a rare occurrence, so I read it with great anticipation—"Congratulations! A wolf has been born!" It was the happiest moment for animal keeper. The substitute caretaker confirmed the birth at around 8:30 a.m.
When I rushed to the zoo, the mother, Moro, was holed up in her birthing box, taking good care of her baby. I rushed in at an unusual time, so Moro came out to see what was going on, and I left immediately.

Ten days after birth, a check revealed there were five pups (two males and three females). Mother Moro is diligently raising her offspring, and they are growing well. The father is Lobo. Both Moro and Lobo were born at the Moscow Zoo. This is the first birth for both Lobo and Moro.
These days, the kids are always running around, so their mothers seem to be having a hard time. Sometimes, with a child in her mouth, she looks at me with eyes that seem to say, "If you're free, why don't you help me?"

Currently, you can observe them on the outdoor slope and in the wolf enclosure at the back, but the mother often hides her cubs in a hollow in the rocks outside. You'd be quite lucky to see the mother carrying her cubs in her mouth.

To be honest, I had been half-doubtful about whether she was pregnant or not. In early March, Moro's body started to look a little plumper. In mid-March, I noticed that the fur on her belly was falling out. So, I quickly prepared a birthing box.
Even as she approached giving birth, her belly didn't seem to change much, and I remained uncertain until the very end. However, I thought, "If there's even a 1% chance, I should prepare rather than regret it later," and the birthing box I made wasn't wasted. I'm so glad! [Takeshi Kumagai animal keeper Tama Zoo]

・ Click here for a video of Common Wolf from Tokyo Zoo Net BB (you can see it howling).

(April 22, 2005)