SÃO PAULO — Brazilian pet nutrition company PremieRpet, and the company behind the Natoo Pet Foods brand in the United States, announced its partnership with Onçafari to support research focused on conservation of the largest wild dog in South America — the maned wolf.

The maned wolf, considered one of Brazil’s most iconic species, is classified as “vulnerable” on the Ministry of the Environment’s list of endangered species in Brazil and classified as “near threatened” by the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

“The maned wolf is an important part of Brazil’s biodiversity, and we are proud to support research that can help advance its conservation,” said Fernando Maluf, vice president of International Sales at PremieRpet. “Through this partnership with Onçafari, we are contributing to science-based efforts to better understand and protect this remarkable species while supporting the health and wellbeing of animals and their ecosystems.”

Since 2018, Onçafari has monitored maned wolves at Fazenda Trijunção in the Brazilian Cerrado. With a R$150,000 ($30,000 USD) investment from PremieRpet, a 12-month research project is leveraging years of data to better understand the species’ movement patterns, habitat use and conservation needs across native and productive landscapes.

The project is using this data to better understand maned wolf home ranges and how they vary by season, sex and life stage. Researchers are also analyzing biological samples to assess the presence of Giardia, a parasite that can affect wildlife, domestic animals and humans. In addition, the team is building a fecal sample bank to support future research, with findings to be shared through scientific publications and national and international conferences.

PremieRpet’s partnership with Onçafari builds on the company’s ongoing commitment to wildlife conservation and environmental initiatives which includes Natoo’s sponsorship of Jaguar Parade Miami 2026, a public art exhibition that raises awareness of wildlife conservation and environmental protection. In addition, the company also continues to advance sustainability through initiatives including its LEED Gold-certified, 100% solar-powered facility and more sustainable packaging solutions.

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