Reid Park Zoo Welcomes New Endangered Species

TUCSON, AZ — Reid Park Zoo welcomed a new, endangered species to its property, the zoo announced Thursday.

Four female African wild dogs can now be found at the Tucson zoo: Grommie (short for Grommet), Cricket, Terra (short for Terracotta) and Sandy. Grommie is the leader of the pack, according to the zoo director.

“We are excited to share this new species with our guests and hope they will have an opportunity to watch them play. They all have distinct markings and we hope our frequent visitors will soon be able to distinguish each one from the other,” Dr. Sue Tygielski, director of zoo operations, said in a news release.

The pack is a subset of a pack from the Oregon Zoo, the statement said. The siblings just celebrated their second birthday on Wednesday.

This species is recognizable by the unique coloration on their body and their giant ears. These wild dogs live in packs, working together to hunt, avoid predators and raise their families. They are found in savannah and open arid habitats in Africa.

Their exhibit is located just left of the entrance, making it easy for guests to see them. The wild dogs can come and go from their habitat to their behind-the-scenes space as they become comfortable in their new home and adjust to visitors. Grommie, the dominant dog, has never led a pack before and will also need time to become accustomed to her new role.

African wild dogs are one of the most endangered mammals in the world, due to habitat loss, snare traps and diseases spread by domestic dogs.

“This species is critically endangered and faces considerable challenges in the wild. We are excited about this opportunity for our community to learn more about African wild dogs, their unique pack dynamics, and how we can support them in the wild,” Tygielski said.