Mexican Gray Wolves
In 2003 the WCC was accepted into the Species Survival Plan (SSP) and US Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Plan for the critically endangered Mexican gray wolf. There are approximately 400 Mexican gray wolves in the world making it one of the rarest mammals in North America. As of the beginning of 2013, on 75 of these wolves live in the wild. The WCC is home to 14 Mexican gray wolves. The goal of the Recovery Plan is to restore Mexican gray wolves to a portion of their traditional range in the southwest United States. The 14 Mexican gray wolves at the WCC occupy five enclosures in the WCC Endangered Species Facility. These enclosures are private and secluded, and the wolves are not on exhibit for the public. Wolves in the wild are naturally afraid of people so the WCC staff follows a protocol to have minimal human contact with the Mexican wolves. This will ensure they have a greater probability of being successful if they are released into the wild as part of the recovery plan.
HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN GRAY WOLF
MEXICAN GRAY WOLVES ON EXHIBIT AT THE WCC
