SALISBURY ZOO'S RED WOLF, SHILOH, DIES AT THE AGE OF 11

Salisbury, MD - The Salisbury Zoo's female red wolf, Shiloh, died recently, shortly after turning 11.Shiloh had pyometra, an infection in her uterus, that caused damage to her kidneys. The Salisbury Zoo's veterinary staff provided critical care for her, but her health continued to decline, and she was humanely euthanized because of her poor quality of life. Pyometras are not uncommon in wolves that are becoming post-reproductive.Shiloh came to the Salisbury Zoo in 2019 from the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island."She was a very active wolf and enjoyed lying on top of the culvert in the middle of the exhibit, watching everything," said Salisbury Zoo Registrar Jessica O'Neill.Red wolves are a critically endangered species. Their lifespan in the wild is about six to seven years, with captive animals living up to twice that range.The Salisbury Zoo still has a red wolf, Bowie, who is 3 years old. Zoo staff are working with Red Wolf SAFE - Saving Animals From Extinction - to find a mate for Bowie.As of May 2023, there were estimated to be 278 red wolves in the Red Wolf SAFE program and less than 30 living in the wild, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website. The Red Wolf SAFE program and its partners are working to grow the population of red wolves so that the species does not become extinct."We are saddened by the loss of Shiloh, but we are also hopeful we will be able to help in Red Wolf SAFE's efforts by bringing in a mate for Bowie," O'Neill said.© Eastern Shore Undercover LLC TM/SM. All Rights Reserved.