Spaying of F516, A Mexican Gray Wolf
3,417 views · Published 13 March 2009 · 3:17 · Indexed 12 November 2026
Channel: Wolf Conservation Center · 2009 · Pets & Animals
This is not a gory video and there is not that much of the operation in it, but if you are squeamish you probably won't want to watch it. The Wolf Conservation Center of South Salem, NY (www.nywolf.org) is home to four ambassador wolves that visitors can observe, and 23 Mexican Gray Wolves that are secluded from the public. There are only about 400 of this endangered subspecies of Gray Wolf left in the world. These wolves are held by the WCC under a federally run Species Survival Plan. One day, they or their offspring may be released into the wild in approved areas. (The WCC is also home to 1 SSP Red Wolf as well.) F516 is an 11 year-old female who was no longer able to successfully carry pups to term. The decision was made by the program to spay her and try to preserve any viable oocytes (eggs). The spaying operation was performed by the amazing Dr. Charles Duffy at the Norwalk (CT) Veterinary Hospital, and the ovaries were flown to the St. Louis Zoo so the eggs could be preserved. The operation went smoothly, as did the egg preservation, and F516 returned to her feisty self within a day. For more information, feel free to contact us through our website. Huge thanks to Dr. Duffy and the entire staff of the Norwalk Veterinary Hospital.
