malik – Jun 15, 2000 12:00 AM

Nancy Gibson writes: The wolf pups have new names and weights. Shadow, the red-collared pup, finally caught up to his brother, Malik, the blue-collared one with his weight. Both of them weigh 9.15 pounds according to the scale on June 15. That is a three pound weight gain in one week! The addition of solid food contributed to their accelerated weight gain. They are also 27 inches long from the tip of the tail to the nose. Their adult premolar tooth also has emerged. This development is several weeks ahead of a domestic dog such as a labrador retriever. They now have 28 sharp teeth in their mouth. Malik and Shadow are howling more regularly in response to handlers that is accompanied by a series of loud whines. The pups have also started to take notice of the fluttering of birds and scampering squirrels near their outdoor enclosure. Malik continues to be the more adventurous pup with further explorations while Shadow tends to watch his brother near a secure spot.