The recent story in The Chronicle about Nicky and Cerberus finding a new home at Wolf Haven is a wonderful example of the thoughtful planning and collaboration that goes into caring for animals in accredited zoos.
Moving animals is a normal and important part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP), the cooperative program managed by accredited zoos and aquariums to ensure healthy, genetically diverse populations of animals in human care. Animals are regularly moved between accredited institutions for breeding recommendations, social compatibility, retirement, or to better meet their individual welfare needs.
In this case, as Como Zoo prepared to retire its wolf exhibit, staff worked well in advance to find the best possible home for Nicky and Cerberus. Their move to Wolf Haven allows them to remain together while providing companionship for resident wolves that had recently lost their partners.
“We were especially impressed by the level of care Wolf Haven put into preparing for Nicky and Cerberus’ arrival,” said Como Zoo Campus Director Erica Prosser. “Before Cerberus even arrived, Wolf Haven hired a nutritionist to review his medical and dietary history to ensure he would receive the best possible care from day one.
“Wolf Haven is widely recognized for its excellence. It is accredited by both the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and the American Sanctuary Association and was honored with the 2024 Outstanding Wildlife Sanctuary Award, selected from more than 200 facilities. The organization is also a SAFE partner for both Mexican wolves and red wolves and has successfully helped return wolves to the wild through conservation and recovery efforts.
“Although we will miss seeing Nicky and Cerberus every day, we are grateful they have found such an exceptional new home. I also want to thank Senior Keeper Jill Erzar for orchestrating this move, along with our Animal Care and Veterinary teams and everyone else who helped make this transition possible. Their careful planning, collaboration, and dedication ensured the wolves had a safe and successful move to their new home.”
Relocating animals is also a normal part of preparing for future zoo improvements. Sometimes animals move to other accredited facilities before construction begins on exciting new habitats. These projects allow zoos like Como to modernize exhibits, enhance animal welfare, create opportunities for new species conservation programs, and provide an even better guest experience.
While we will all miss Cerberus and Nicky and their unique personalities, we couldn’t be happier that they have found such a wonderful new home at Wolf Haven, where they can continue to thrive together. At the same time, we’re excited for what lies ahead at Como Zoo. Their move marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we prepare for a future habitat that will welcome new species and continue advancing our mission of exceptional animal care, conservation, and inspiring connections with wildlife.
As Como Zoo begins finding new homes for the beloved animals currently living in our Large Cats habitat, these transitions will happen thoughtfully and over time. We know the Como Zoo staff, volunteers, and guests have formed special connections with these incredible animals, and we’ll share updates along the way so everyone has the opportunity to celebrate them and say goodbye before they begin their next adventures and milestones. Every move will be guided by the same careful planning, collaboration, and commitment to animal welfare that made Nicky and Cerberus’ journey such a success. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating each animal during their remaining time at Como Zoo and in wishing them the very best as they begin their next chapter.
