Saving Rare Mexican Gray Wolves (the lobo)
As a conservationist who cares about wildlife struggling to survive, I am greatly troubled by the state of 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.
TO: U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar
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 nearly 20 percent--making it 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, and 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.
TO: U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar
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 nearly 20 percent--making it 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, and 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.