Musk oxen vanished from Alaska because of indiscriminate hunting. The last herd was killed in 1865 by native Alaskans with imported rifles. In 1930, the United States purchased 34 musk oxen from Greenland to begin the re-establishment of this native animal to its original range. By 1968 the herd had increased to 750 animals, and in 1970 was separated, with colonies being moved to five areas throughout the state. The zoo's wolves in a hilly, grass covered area which contains a stream, trees for shade, and heated dens in which to sleep or rest.
Wolves are numerous in most areas of Alaska.
They hunt and travel in packs of up to 20 family members. Wolves follow caribou migrations, feeding on sick and young animals. Probably the most serious threat to moose and caribou, wolves were the subject of a massive government-sponsored eradication effort up until 1970. Beginning in 1920, a legal bounty was paid for their pelts. Perhaps because of this, the number of wolves on the tundra has remained quite low in comparison with the rest of the state.