Detroit Zoo Welcomes Rare Bush Dogs

The dog days of summer just got better at the Detroit Zoo with the addition of two bush dogs. 

The arrival of 1-year-old sisters Miranda and Dolly marks the first time in nearly 45 years that the zoo has had bush dogs. There are only five other zoos in the United States that care for the species. 

“With fewer than 30 bush dogs in U.S. zoos, Detroit Zoo visitors have a unique opportunity see these rare – and very cute – wild dogs of the rainforest,” Chief Life Sciences Officer Scott Carter said.

Native to South America, the bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is known for its low-to-the-ground build, with a shoulder height of only 12 inches, and can weigh up to 15 pounds. The wild canid sports long, reddish-brown fur and has webbed feet that make it an ideal swimmer in tropical rivers and wetlands. 

With fewer than 15 thousand bush dogs in the wild, the species is listed as “near threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species due to habitat destruction and development by humans. 

Miranda and Dolly can be seen in the small animals area adjacent to the barnyard. 

– Source: The Detroit Zoo