Mexican Gray Wolf
Recovery Program
Why Mexican gray wolves at Brookfield Zoo?
Because we are committed to conservation.
We chose to be part of an international recovery program for Mexican gray wolves because they are the most endangered wolves in North America. Mexican gray wolves are a “subspecies,” or subgroup, of gray wolves and would be extinct in the wild if not for the help of zoos and other conservation organizations.
How the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program Works:
Step 1: Maintain and study healthy populations of wolves.
The Mexican gray wolves living at Brookfield Zoo are part of a multizoo breeding program called a Species Survival Plan (SSP). This SSP began with a small group of wild wolves and, through careful matchmaking to avoid inbreeding, now has over 240 wolves. Because few data about Mexican gray wolves in the wild exist, staff gather all of the information they can about wolf behavior.
Step 2: Release wolves into the wild.
Biologists from the United States and Mexico select candidates (from the SSP) for the release program and move them to a large enclosure in a remote area. Staff provide food, but the wolves also hunt wildlife that enters their enclosure. After several months, biologists release pairs or family groups of wolves into protected areas and monitor them carefully. The release is successful when wolves hunt their own food, avoid people, form a healthy pack, and raise pups.
Mexican Gray Wolves:
A Troubled Past, A Promising Future
1900—Populations decline.
As railroads bring people to live out West, people overhunt wolves’ prey and kill wolves out of fear.
1950—Few remain
Few wolves are left in the wild.
1976—Endangered.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service places Mexican gray wolves on its endangered species list.
1982—Recovery.
The United States and Mexico sign a Mexican gray wolf recovery plan developed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
1998—Wild release.
The first Mexican gray wolves are released into protected areas of southeastern Arizona.
2002—Numbers increase.
Sixty wild wolves live in protected areas, while 240 wolves live in zoos and other conservation centers.
2003—Brookfield Zoo helps.
Brookfield Zoo joins international efforts to conserve Mexican gray wolves.
For more information, visit http://ifw2es.fws.gov/mexicanwolf.
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