HOUSTON – Four African painted dogs made their return to the Houston Zoo after a three-year absence.
The four male dogs, Modo, Rafiki, Tamu and Wiki, moved from Binder Park Zoo in Michigan as part of a Species Survival Plan, which controls and conserves the population with careful breeding that is genetically diverse and stable, the Houston Zoo said in a news release.
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The four dogs were part of a litter of 11 pups born in November.
Dogs are back! The Houston Zoo welcomed African painted dogs back to the Zoo after a three-year
— Houston Zoo (@houstonzoo) August 27, 2020
absence. The four male dogs moved to Houston from Binder Park Zoo near Battle Creek, MI. pic.twitter.com/MC5N8cZfD5
The zoo said African painted dogs are currently one of the most endangered carnivores in Africa, with an estimated population of less than 5,000. Top reasons include human conflict, widespread diseases and habitat fragmentation.
The Houston Zoo wants to let visiting guests know that a portion of every admission ticket is donated to conservation efforts to protecting animals such as the African painted dog in the wild.