There are just 42 Mexican gray wolves left in Arizona and New Mexico -- the last place these animals exist in the wild.
Mexican gray wolves, also know as lobos, are the one of the most endangered wolf populations in the world. Lobos have been protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1976, but are still on the brink of extinction. Mismanagement, criminal wolf poaching and a vocal anti-wolf minority have hampered efforts that could save the lobos. Just two breeding pairs remain in the wild.
The situation is critical: We can't afford to lose even one more wolf. Tell U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to speed up federal recovery efforts and save the lobos.
Dear Secretary Salazar,
As a conservationist who cares about wildlife struggling to survive, I am greatly troubled by the state of efforts to recover the Mexican gray wolf (also known as the lobo). Because this amazing and ecologically important animal is so close to a second extinction in the wild, I strongly urge you to do everything in your power to fast-track your agency's efforts to recover and restore wild Mexican gray wolf populations in Arizona and New Mexico.
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As you know, an orchestrated eradication campaign nearly eliminated these magnificent animals during the last century. Fortunately, the federal government protected lobos under the Endangered Species Act in 1976, and with the help of zoos in the US and Mexico, initiated a captive breeding program that kept these highly endangered wolves from disappearing altogether.
But 33 years later, these wolves remain on the brink of extinction in the wild due to years of misguided policies that too often killed or removed wild wolves, criminal poaching and a vocal anti-wolf minority that has prevented reasonable management to save these important animals.
Over the last year, the number of wild Mexican gray wolves has declined by ten -- a nearly 20 percent reduction in one of the most endangered wild wolf populations in the world. With just two breeding pairs left outside of captivity, these wolves are again threatened with extinction in the wild.
With so few lobos remaining in the wild, the loss of even one wolf could spell disaster for this rare subspecies.
Because the situation is so dire, I strongly urge you to direct the Services' Southwest Region Director, Benjamin Tuggle, to immediately move forward with a new Mexican gray wolf recovery plan based on the best conservation science that lays out a road map to save these rare wolves. Mexican gray wolves deserve this chance.
Thank you for considering my comments. I look forward to your reply.
