Within three days, twelve “healthy” red wolf pups of the endangered species were born at the North Carolina Zoo

Moriah Angott/NC Zoo

The North Carolina Zoo’s animal family has grown by a dozen!

On Monday, the zoo announced the birth of three litters of critically endangered American red wolves.

The litters – 12 pups in total – are part of the facility's red wolf breeding program and were born last month during the three-day period of April 28-30.

This is the first time that the zoo's breeding program has produced three litters in one spring season.

The forest dog puppies and their mothers are currently “healthy and well,” the zoo said.

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Moriah Angott/NC Zoo

According to the zoo, Denali and Ayita are the parents of the two female cubs born on April 28, while Solo and Taylor are the parents of the four cubs (two males and two females) born on April 30.

The parents of the other six puppies, including two males and four females, born on April 30th, are Flint and Sassy.

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“Congratulations to the North Carolina Zoo for playing an essential role in the survival of this critically endangered species,” said Reid Wilson, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, in a statement. “These births are important because many of our wolves, once fully grown, have been moved to other breeding packs to continue helping to save this species from extinction.”

He added: “Our hope is that soon more and more red wolves can be released into the wild.”

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The newest additions to the Asheboro Zoo bring the number of red wolves currently in the organization's breeding program to 36.

According to a press release from the North Carolina Zoo, the facility is now home to the second largest pack in the country after the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington.

According to the zoo, there are currently about 15 to 20 red wolves living in the wild in eastern North Carolina. The mammal is considered the most endangered canid in the world.

The North Carolina Zoo's 12 new wolf cubs will “most likely” make their first public appearance in June, when they begin to leave their dens. When they are older, the wolves will be moved to non-public breeding areas.