Celebrating Wolf Awareness Week: The Journey of the Mexican Gray Wolf

Posted October 21, 2024 by Tara Lay

Happy Wolf Awareness Week! We’re taking a moment to highlight one of the most inspiring stories of conservation success – the recovery of the Mexican gray wolf. Despite being critically endangered, these majestic animals are making a comeback thanks to dedicated recovery efforts on both sides of the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

Four Mexican wolves call the Cincinnati Zoo home! Bruce, Shadow and Waya are three brothers who were born at the Endangered Wolf Center, and their birthday is April 9th, 2018. Elena is a female who came to us also from Endangered Wolf Center and her birthday is May 14, 2021.

Front view of Mexican Wolf in the snow

The History of Mexican Wolf Reintroduction

The first reintroduction of Mexican gray wolves in the U.S. began in 1998, followed by Mexico’s own effort in 2011. Both countries have worked tirelessly to protect and nurture the population in the wild, with today’s wild wolves being direct descendants of those that were once in managed care. Last year marked 25 years since the start of these groundbreaking efforts!

The Current State of the Mexican Wolf Population

As of today, the total living population of Mexican wolves stands at 476, a remarkable number for a species that was once on the brink of extinction. This population is supported by two key programs: the Species Survival Plan (SSP) and the Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program.

SAFE Mexican Wolf, led by Cincinnati Zoo’s Kim Scott, is a bi-national recovery program that will help support and find new opportunities to work with the community in the recovery areas of both Mexico and the United States. The goal? To work hand-in-hand with local communities and other stakeholders in Mexico and the U.S. to give Mexican wolves a better chance at survival. As the AZA stated: “SAFE Mexican Wolf is a bi-national recovery program that will help support and find new opportunities to work with the community in the recovery areas of both Mexico and the United States.”

Recent Successes in Wolf Conservation

While the journey for Mexican gray wolves is still ongoing, there is much to be hopeful about. One of the year’s biggest wins was the discovery of a foster wolf leading a pack – an incredible testament to the resilience of this species. Officials were also successful in fostering pups into a pack that was once a foster pack itself!

And how could we forget the most exciting milestone? This year, the 100th Mexican wolf pup was released into the wild!

These developments underscore the importance of zoo-based programs. As AZA emphasizes: “Recovery in the wild depends on zoos and facilities being able to produce wolves that can thrive in the wild.” By working together, zoos, government agencies, and conservation organizations are making a real difference for these wolves.

Looking to the Future

Though the Mexican gray wolf is still critically endangered, these recent achievements have given conservationists hope. With ongoing support from programs like SSP and SAFE, and continued cooperation between Mexico and the United States, we believe there’s a bright future ahead for these wolves.

So, as we celebrate Wolf Awareness Week, let’s remember the incredible journey of the Mexican wolf and how vital ongoing efforts are for their continued survival.