Chrysocyon brachyurus – the Maned Wolf – is the largest canine in South America and possibly its most iconic mammal. Found in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Peru, this animal is renowned for its fox-like appearance, long legs and elusive hunting habits. In this guide, we explore the Maned Wolf’s behaviour and diet, threats to the species and how you can encounter this extraordinary species on our Brazil wildlife tours.

The Maned Wolf & Range in South America

The Maned Wolf is an unusual canid. It weighs up to 25 kg, has long legs, which give it a height of up to a metre. It also has a reddish coat which was characteristic of its genus, Chrysocyon, which means “golden dog”. Its black mane gave the animal its common name and is important in displays of aggression.

Despite closely resembling a fox, the Maned Wolf is not a fox or a wolf and is not closely related to any other living canid species – it is a completely unique animal. This makes it crucial to the ecosystems it lives in, particularly seed-dispersal in the grasslands and scrub forests of the Cerrado.

C. brachyurus is distributed through central South America where Cerrado-like savannah is present. Countries where this is the case include Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay.

Maned Wolf Habitat in Brazil’s Cerrado

Primarily, the Maned Wolf’s habitat is in the Cerrado of Brazil. This is a savannah-like habitat dominated by grasses and shrub-like vegetation. There is an incredible diversity of life here which is critical in sustaining the Maned Wolf.

One of the best locations within the Brazilian Cerrado to see Maned Wolves is Pousada Trijunção. This lodge, integrated into the surrounding environment, invests in protecting and conserving the preferred conditions of the Maned Wolf: grasslands, shrubland and wetland margins.

The best times to see them here are the colder months between July and October as this is when the animals are most active and, therefore, most visible. During these months, early mornings and evenings are optimal times, so heading out in a 4X4 at these times is your best opportunity for sightings.

Maned Wolf Behaviour and Diet

Maned Wolves hunt at twilight in response to the humidity and temperature at this time of day; so, on cold or cloudy days they may be active at any time. Unusually for species of their family, maned wolves hunt alone. As they do so they rotate their highly sensitive ears to pinpoint their prey, targeting small animals such as rodents and birds.

They are omnivores, known also to feed on more than 100 different plants. One of these, the wolf apple, is particularly sought out by the wolf and have made the animal one of the main dispersers of the plant’s seeds.

Territories of approximately 30 km² are defended by wolf pairs which will patrol during the night, creating clearly trodden pathways. Hunting paths are marked with strongly scented urine, as are many other things like buried prey. The strength of their scent has given Maned Wolves the nickname ‘skunk wolf’.

Pairs of Maned Wolves are monogamous and their mating season runs from November to April. To each pair about 6 pups with black fur are born. These open their eyes after 9 days; are nursed for 4 months; fed by regurgitation; and then are fully grown within a year. Care is carried out mainly by the mother, but males do also partake. Reproduction is typically difficult for these wolves and mortality rates are high. Even in good cases when infant mortality does not occur, an individual rarely loves longer than 12 years.

Threats to the Maned Wolf & Conservation

The dangers of maned wolves pose to humans are minimal and they often flee when alarmed. In the past, these animals were hunted for their eyes which were thought to be good luck charms. Now, Maned Wolf habitat loss is the primary cause of their decline, with the Cerrado in Brazil having reduced to roughly half the size of its original extent – in São Paolo State, there is less than 7% of the original Cerrado left. Deforestation to make way for farmland and fires in the region are the main ways habitat has become unsuitable here – not just for the Maned Wolf, but for all animals of the Cerrado.

Other threats include being hit by vehicles; catching introduced disease; and being attacked by feral and domestic dogs. Population decline, mainly caused by human activity, means this is a near vulnerable species. To help conserve what population remains, it is now illegal to hunt Maned Wolves in Brazil.

Click here to see what Aqua-Firma is doing to address some of the environmental problems the Pantanal faces.

Where to See Maned Wolves in Brazil

We run itineraries which run into the heart of Brazil’s Cerrado where you can have the chance to see these incredible creatures.

We also have an array of experiences on our Brazil Page and Travel Guides for the country’s locations, ranging from the quiet plains of the Cerrado and the humid wilderness of the Amazon to the energetic cities of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador.