Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Zoo comes to life with the arrival of a new wolf pack

It’s a fresh new chapter at the Assiniboine Park Zoo—one that howls with excitement. Following the loss of their last longtime pack member this spring, the Zoo has welcomed not one, but five new grey wolves to the family.

Early Thursday morning, the Zoo’s wolf habitat came to life with the arrival of Chinook, Gigi, Comet, Stella, and Virgo—a new pack of grey wolves relocated from the Greater Vancouver Zoo. Ranging in age from 3 to 7 years old, the new arrivals are already exploring their surroundings in the Boreal Forest exhibit, slowly getting comfortable in their new Manitoba home.

“When we were in conversations with the Greater Vancouver Zoo, they hadn’t just selected animals they wanted to move out, but animals they thought would do well here,” said Shane Pratt, curator of animal care at Assiniboine Park Zoo.

While it may take weeks for the wolves to fully settle in, the early signs are promising.

“Gigi, being the older female, is expected to be the leader of this group. She came out super confident almost immediately. Then Comet came out second, and they trickled out afterward and have been settling in very well,” said Pratt.

The previous pack had been a beloved part of the zoo for over a decade. When the last wolf, Bear, passed away earlier this year, it left a noticeable gap. Fortunately, the transition has been thoughtful, with the new pack’s presence already making an impact—both on zoo visitors and on the Zoo’s broader conservation mission.

“They’re such a keystone species to conservation and the wild, but to us and our education here, they help get people excited and connect them with wildlife,” said Pratt.

Whether you’re a wildlife lover or just looking for a wild day out, this new wolf pack is already proving to be a fan favourite.