Minnesota Zoo Welcomes 2 Litters of Wild Dog Pups

This past winter, the , called dholes.

Now the zoo is one of just a handful of places home to the birth of a litter of pups of the endangered animal.

Two litters of dholes (pronounced "dohlz") were born at the zoo in mid-April, according to a press release—two of 11 births ever recorded in the United States.

Zoo keepers estimate there are four pups, but aren't completely sure because of their behavior; two females also are sharing the mother role for the pups, the release says. The pups are expected to be out of the den more in coming weeks, and are best seen from the gazebo at the exhibit.

The dhole is found in China, India, Russia and Thailand; about 2,500 are left in the wild. The growth of Asia's human population contributes to their endangered status, causing habitat loss and lack of prey, as well as disease.

Dholes are carnivorous animals that eat mostly deer and wild boar. The Minnesota Zoo is involved in dhole conservaton efforts in Thailand.

More information about dholes is available on the Minnesota Zoo website.

You can check out more photos of adult dholes on the zoo's Facebook page.