The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish captured a feminine Mexican wolf that strayed out of the restoration zone and traveled north of Interstate 40, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported on Jan. 23. The Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Recovery Area (MWEPA) spans southern New Mexico and Arizona. The east-west interstate marks the northern boundary.
On Jan. 22, beneath the FWS’ authorization, NMDGF officers discovered and captured feminine Mexican wolf f2754 utilizing a helicopter. The wolf had wandered north on Jan. 2, ending up in a area the place no different Mexican grey wolves had been recognized to be current. After roughly every week, she didn’t present any indication of returning to the MWEPA. Since breeding season was upcoming, wildlife officers had been involved the wolf may try and breed with home canine within the space.
According to the restoration allow, “Authorized Permittees may capture and at the direction and discretion of the USFWS Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator, return to the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area, or transfer to captivity or Mexico, any Mexican wolves that have dispersed from the experimental population and that establish wholly outside of the MWEPA in Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas.”
F2754 is at present being held on the Sevilleta Wolf Management Facility in New Mexico till officers relocate her. They plan to pair her with a male wolf and relocate them to Mexico later within the yr.
“These wolves are genetically redundant in the MWEPA and provide more value to the Mexico population,” the press launch reads.
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Mexican wolves, also called lobos, had been virtually worn out of the southwestern U.S. by the Nineteen Seventies resulting from livestock conflicts. The species acquired endangered species standing in 1976. Twenty two years later, FWS launched captive-bred wolves into what’s now the MWEPA. Currently, the MWEPA holds an estimated 196 wolves, whereas a separate inhabitants in Mexico has an estimated 37.
Animal advocacy organizations are protesting the company’s plans to relocate the wolf to Mexico.
“Wolves dispersing throughout their historic range and suitable habitat is so important for restoring the lobo in a meaningful, scientific way,” WildEarth Guardians southwest wildlife advocate Chris Smith stated in a press launch from the Center for Biological Diversity. “Removing wolves that roam is totally antithetical to their recovery. Leave her be.”