The population growth marks a milestone for endangered Mexican gray wolves<\/p>\n
Mexican gray wolves \u2014 also known as \u201cel lobo\u201d \u2014 are the most genetically distinct<\/a> lineage of gray wolves in the Western Hemisphere, according to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center. Once widespread, the species was wiped out in the wild by the mid\u20111980s due to poisoning, hunting, and trapping.<\/p>\n RELATED STORIES<\/p>\n Their path to recovery began in 1998 with a federal reintroduction effort under the Endangered Species Act. That year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service set 11 Mexican gray wolves free into the wild in Arizona<\/a>, according to Defenders of Wildlife.<\/p>\n Since then, the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan<\/a> (SSP) has grown into a nationwide network of more than 300 zoos, conservation centers and partner facilities working to rebuild the population.<\/p>\n One of those partners is the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, near Rio Verde Drive and 156th Street<\/a>. There\u2019s no breeding onsite, but the center functions as a holding facility for wolves that have either aged out or haven\u2019t been successful in a breeding program.<\/p>\n Despite population growth, wild wolves still face threats<\/p>\n Despite the progress made through the SSP, Robinson said there\u2019s still more work to be done.<\/p>\n \u201cI used to fear they\u2019d all get wiped out by a major wildfire or a spate of illegal killings, but now I\u2019m confident they won\u2019t disappear in my lifetime,\u201d he said. \u201cThe big danger is that politics will strip these still\u2011imperiled wolves of their Endangered Species Act protections before they\u2019re truly recovered.\u201d<\/p>\n The Center for Biological Diversity said inbreeding is worsening. Captive wolves, including those in zoos, are 37% more genetically diverse than their wild counterparts, yet that diversity is not being successfully transferred through releases.<\/p>\n \u201cAn increase in wolf numbers is encouraging, but headcounts alone do not mean recovery,\u201d Michelle Lute, the executive director of Wildlife for All, said.<\/p>\n She and other leading conservationists are calling for the release of captive\u2011born male and female pairs \u2014 along with their pups \u2014 into the wild. The Center for Biological Diversity said wildlife managers have been taking captive\u2011born pups from their parents and placing them into wild wolves\u2019 dens<\/a> since 2016.<\/p>\n This practice has resulted in 79% of those pups disappearing.<\/p>\n \u201cMexican gray wolves remain genetically imperiled, and human-caused mortality continues to undermine their future,\u201d Lute said. \u201cUntil agencies prioritize strict protections and release bonded family groups to strengthen the gene pool, these wolves will remain vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n Under the current federal recovery plan<\/a>, the Mexican gray wolf cannot be delisted until the wild population averages 320 wolves over eight years and the population in Mexico reaches 200 wolves. Only 35 to 40 wolves currently live in Mexico, making it unlikely recovery goals will be met before 2043, according to High Country News.<\/p>\n Follow @serenaeosully<\/a><\/p>\n We want to hear from you.<\/p>\n Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
![\"newsletter](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/KTAREmail-830x100-1.jpg\")