Honolulu Zoo delivers 3 African wild dogs to Boise, Idaho

The Honolulu Zoo announced the successful delivery of three of its male African wild dogs to Zoo Boise in Idaho last week as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan.

Jasper, Kyanite and MJ left Honolulu last Thursday on a special flight that arrived in Boise the following day, and are now on display in a newly constructed exhibit there.

“A major component of the Honolulu Zoo’s mission is conservation,” said zoo director Linda Santos in a news release today. “The Species Survival Plan allows our staff to fulfill this mandate while helping other zoos display new animals. This is a win-win situation as it benefits the zoo that’s breeding endangered or threatened animals, as well as the zoo that’s receiving them.”

The three canines were born at the Honolulu Zoo on Oct. 16, 2017, as part of a litter of seven puppies. The four female African wild dogs from that litter, Pumpkin, Lilikoi, Peanut and Raisin, as well as their mother, Ivy, remain on display at the Honolulu Zoo.

African wild dogs are listed as endangered, with no more than 5,000 left in the wild. Since 1997, Honolulu Zoo has bred and raised 18 African wild dogs, and sent offspring to other facilities where many have also successfully bred. Across the U.S., the zoo said there are at least 114 African wild dogs distributed between 33 zoos.