In celebration of International Wolf Day, Northwood University — home of the Timberwolves — has committed to sponsoring the wolf exhibit at the Saginaw Children’s Zoo.
“It is a natural fit for the Northwood University Timberwolves to partner with the Saginaw Children’s Zoo. We are both non-profit organizations committed to education, conservation, and enhancing life in the Great Lakes Bay Region,” stated Justin Marshall, chief development and engagement officer for Northwood University.
The Saginaw Children’s Zoo features the Mexican grey wolf, which is a subspecies of the grey wolf. Commonly referred to as “El lobo,” this wolf is grey with light brown fur on its back. Currently, the exhibit features three wolves: Jinx, Kizzie, and Sydney.
Nancy Parker, director of Saginaw Children’s Zoo, said the organization is elated about the partnership between Northwood University and the Saginaw Children’s Zoo on International Wolf Day.
“On behalf of our Mexican Gray wolves, thank you for the help in nourishing the wolves, and enriching our community with the support,” Parker stated.
The three wolves are part of a very important program where the Saginaw Zoo collaborates with agencies throughout the United States and Mexico to reintroduce Mexican grey wolves to their original wild range.
“Mexican Gray Wolves are one of five North American subspecies of gray wolf,” stated Animal Curator Sarah Colman. “They are also the smallest and most endangered. In fact, they were considered to be extinct in the wild until reintroduction efforts were made in 1998. At the Zoo today, we a proud to participate in collaborative programs with other zoos across the country to help save the captivating canid. As part of these collaborative programs, we keep the forage for our wolves as ‘wild’ as possible, feeding them an exotic canine chow and whole prey items.”
Northwood University will further engage with the Saginaw Children’s Zoo by introducing its students to volunteer opportunities.
The Saginaw Children’s Zoo is located at 1730 S. Washington Ave., Saginaw. Its phone number is (989) 759-1408, and it is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.saginawzoo.com.
To learn more about Northwood University — home of the Timberwolves — visit www.northwood.edu.
