Shelter Dog Helps Orphaned Wolf Pup 'Grow Into the Wolf She Is Meant to Be' in Kansas Zoo's 'Unique' Pairing

A recently orphaned maned wolf pup found a much-needed friend at the Sedgwick County Zoo.

The Kansas-based zoo shared Amora's story in a Facebook update on Tuesday, Feb. 4, in which they explained that her mother, Layla, "unexpectedly passed away" recently "despite expert care."

Although maned wolves are naturally solitary, the zoo said young pups need "companionship" to develop properly, making raising Amora more challenging.

"Without a mother or sibling, it is challenging for her to learn the natural behaviors she will need to thrive as a maned wolf," the zoo said.

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To help with Amora's loss, the Sedgwick County Zoo found a "unique solution" by calling upon the Kansas Humane Society to give the female pup a new friend.

The end result was Slinky, a brindle mix, who had been feeling "sad and alone" after his sister was adopted, the Kansas Humane Society said in a statement.

Slinky and his sister had been taken in by the Kansas Humane Society on the same day Amora was born, making his connection to Amora even stronger.

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The organization said they instantly knew "this would be the perfect pairing" and found that the Sedgwick County Zoo also had an "immediate linking" to Slinky. After the zoo adopted him, they started a quarantine to prevent the spreading of diseases.

The quarantine was over by the following weekend and the Kansas Humane Society said it is "overjoyed" to share that "things are going well between them."

"They have since been carefully introduced, and while Amora has quite the spicy personality, Slinky's playful nature is helping her grow into the wolf she is meant to be," said the Sedgwick County Zoo in its update.

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The zoo said that, as per the SSP (Species Survival Plan), Amora will eventually transition to living with other maned wolves, "carrying on the legacy of her species."

According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, SSPs are developed to "manage a genetically diverse, demographically varied and biologically sound population."

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The Kansas Humane Society said that once Amora is old enough to be integrated with other maned wolves, Slinky will retire and be adopted by one of the zoo's employees, "who fell head over heels in love with him."

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