A rare South American species has made its debut at Longleat, marking another first for the Wiltshire safari park.
Three maned wolves have officially joined the Drive-Through Safari and can now be seen by visitors in a specially prepared habitat near African Village.
The trio — Fleur, Arabella and Luna — have spent the past six months settling into life at Longleat while keepers completed work on their new enclosure. From this week, they are being introduced to the public for the first time.
The sisters share their habitat with capybaras and Brazilian tapirs, creating a South American-themed environment within the safari attraction.
Although known as maned wolves, the animals are not actually wolves. Native to South America, they are a unique species that bears a resemblance to a fox, particularly due to their distinctive reddish coat, pointed muzzle and large ears.
One of their most striking features is their height. Adult maned wolves can stand between 74 and 91 centimetres at the shoulder, thanks largely to their unusually long legs. In the wild, this adaptation allows them to see above the tall grasslands where they live and hunt.
They also possess large ears which help them detect prey, while the dark mane running along their back can be raised when threatened, making them appear larger to potential predators.
Unlike many other members of the canine family, maned wolves are omnivores. Their diet consists largely of fruit, insects and small animals, with relatively little meat compared with true wolves.
Eloïse Kilbane, Longleat’s Lead Keeper for Hoofstock and Carnivores, said the arrival of the species had generated excitement among the animal care team.
“We’re excited for guests to see the three new girls,” she said.
“Fleur, Arabella and Luna have already been living at the park for six months whilst we prepared their new home, making it even more exciting now our guests will be able to see them.”
The arrival continues Longleat’s efforts to introduce new and unusual species to its collection. According to keepers, the maned wolves are only the second entirely new species to be added to the Drive-Through Safari following the introduction of African wild dogs.
Beyond their appeal to visitors, the animals also play a role in wider conservation efforts.
Fewer than 17,000 maned wolves are believed to remain in the wild, with populations declining significantly in recent decades due to habitat loss, road collisions and human encroachment.
Longleat says the species has experienced an estimated 20 per cent population decline over the past 15 years, making managed zoo populations increasingly important for conservation and public education.
While there are currently no plans to breed the three sisters, their presence helps raise awareness of a species many visitors may never have encountered before.
For safari-goers, however, the immediate attraction is likely to be seeing one of South America’s most unusual animals exploring its new Wiltshire home for the very first time.
