Maned Wolf at Herberstein Wildlife Park

A wolf who breaks character

Despite its name, the maned wolf is not a true member of the wolf family. It is a solitary animal, nocturnal, and half of its diet consists of fruit. Its Paraguayan name, “aguara guazu,” which translates to “big fox,” is actually a bit closer to the truth. Not only does its appearance resemble that of a fox on stilts, but its hunting style is also very similar to that of a fox.

With a little luck, during the full moon tour, you can watch our maned wolves as they set out in quick strides, their ears pricked up in alertness, in search of food. If you don’t see them, you’ll probably at least catch a whiff of their strong scent marks from a distance.

Did you know?

A maned wolf walks like a camel—in a pas de chasse! In this gait, the front and hind legs on the same side of its body move forward at the same time, resulting in a rocking gait.