As our ambassador pup Kinari’s time in the nursery has come to an end, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated pup nannies, both staff and volunteers, who spent countless hours caring for and socializing her over these past few months.
Throughout their time with Kinari, the nannies shared many laughs and unforgettable moments. Here are a few of their favorite behind-the-scenes stories that truly capture Kinari’s personality and spirit.
I was excited for my first evening shift with Kinari, our newest ambassador wolf in training. I had my first couple of day shifts watching and bonding with her but this was going to be the first overnight. I got in early and the evening went just as planned. I fed her dinner (which she wolfed down) and we sat in the outdoor run as the sun went down. As it got dark outside, we came back into the nursery and I got the bed ready for the night. I put out my blanket and pillow and before I could get in bed, Kinari got on the bed and curled up right in the middle. I guess she liked the fluffy blanket. I turned off the lights, squeezed under the blanket, and Kinari adjusted herself to lean up against me. All was good.
Around midnight, Kinari woke up and climbed up on my chest. I assumed she was repositioning to snuggle up, until my shoulder started to feel wet. I jumped out of bed and turned the light on. She had peed all over my blanket, and shoulder. Luckily I had a change of clothes but no spare blanket. The nursery is kept pretty cool so the remainder of the night was a cold one, but at least she cuddled back up and slept the rest of the night.
– Alex Spitzer, Animal Care Facilities Manager
Kinari and I were up in her enclosure which is adjacent to the ambassador’s enclosure. We were chilling on the picnic table around 9:30am when suddenly, I saw Kinari come to attention and look up. As I looked up in the direction she was focused on, I saw a large turkey vulture resting on the lamp post over the enclosures. She was mesmerized. I could see she was excited but cautious. She moved into a pounce position (though the vulture was at least 20 feet away and 12 feet up). Kinari stayed in this position for about four minutes, watching the vulture watch her. Her interest began to fade, and she moved into a more relaxed mode.
All of a sudden, the vulture puffed up its breast and wings in preparation for flight and shot off the post with a forceful noisy pushing and swooshing sound, dipping a bit close to us before taking flight into the trees and beyond. Kinari was startled (as I was, too) and we both jumped a bit to watch the bird take flight. She stood there for about 20 seconds trying to figure out what had just happened. Welcome to your new home, Kinari!!
– Lois Kral, WCC Volunteer
Raising ambassador wolf pups is a tremendous privilege and responsibility. Their future as an ambassador lies in the experiences you provide, good and bad.
Kinari is a bold and confident pup who embraced every new experience without hesitation, including enrichment with toys and tunnels, meeting new people, and interacting with other animals. During my nanny shifts I would bring her to my home for enrichment. My partner Chris (who is also a nanny and on the animal care team), has a small farm that is home to the many residents of Animals Embassy. There, she had the opportunity to explore new places and meet different animals, including a tortoise named Sully and a Kunekune pig named Kooney Kooney!
Historically my German Shepherds have always been instrumental in raising the WCC’s ambassador wolves. They are the conduit between the human and wolf world and have a huge impact in shaping the pup into the magnificent ambassador wolves they are. The dog can provide companionship and interactions that a young wolf craves, which the human nannies cannot provide. My current shepherd, Maku, is just two years old, so I was initially concerned he might be too young for such an important task. As animals always do, he stepped right up to the plate! He was gentle yet firm, providing the companionship and stimulation Kinari needed. Previous nanny German Shepherds Eno and Kai would be proud!
– Rebecca Bose, Curator
Please join us in sending howls of thanks to Kinari’s nannies, whose efforts helped shape her into the wolf she is today.
Volunteering at the Center takes many forms, from pup nannies to education assistants to facilities support, and every role is vital in helping the Center create a world where wolves thrive. Interested in learning about other ways you can volunteer? Tap the button below.
