maya – Aug 11, 2008 12:00 AM

Maya had a slow start as a maternal role model for the pups, but the Behavioral Team did see some improvements throughout the week. She is more inclined to roll over for the pups and has reduced her obsession with food, that may have been a response to a surge in hormones from the introduction. We also did recall, that Maya was the only female in a litter of all males, and there has been some research about lone females in a litter displaying more masculine behaviors. She also didn't have a maternal presence in the pack when she was introduced. Shadow had the great care giving behavior of MacKenzie, and even though the arctics later challenged MacKenzie, his first year in the Exhibit involved a strong social bond from MacKenzie.