The main threat to maned wolves is reproductive isolation, Celine, caused by agricultural development that divides their territory in small, unconnected patches of land. Maned wolves cannot meet and mate with other maned wolves when they are isolated from each other.

They are sometimes killed by ranchers when they try to eat domestic chickens. And there is also an idiot unban legend that says they eat cattle and sheep. This gives them a bad reputation that leads some truck drivers to run over them (stupidity at its best).

It’s quite interesting you cited agent orange because the most bizarre aspect of manned wolves has to do with a kind of fruit.

Wherever you find maned wolves you will also find a kind of tree called loberia (lobo = wolf). Manned wolves eat the fruit produced by this tree, called wolf apples, to prevent kidney problems.

There is a very easy way to wipe out an entire population of maned wolves. You just have to cut down all the Wolf Apple trees in the region. They just can’t survive without them.

I ate this fruit myself when I visited a national park. It’s more or less tasty, I gotta tell you : )

And this is the good, old maned wolf, Celine and Abbey. Just when you think there couldn’t be anything weirder than his appearance, you discover his habits : )