Number of Endangered Mexican Gray Wolves Increases for Third Year

A new census conducted by the Federal state and tribal agencies offers good news for the population of the endangered Mexican gray wolves. According to their census, the number of wolves in the wild in the Southwest increased for the third year in a row.

Officials counted a total of 75 wolves, with 38 in New Mexico and 37 in Arizona. There were 58 wolves a year ago and just 50 at the beginning of 2011. However, they noticed a decline in the breeding pairs. The numbers dropped from six to just three today.

"I'm pleased that the number of Mexican gray wolves has increased for the third year in a row," Michael Robinson, wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a news statement. "The decrease in the number of breeding pairs, however, is cause for concern. If wolves are truly going to return and recover in the Southwest, more wolves must be released into the wild."

Almost 11 wolves in the past six years were released into the wild, while the others were kept in captivity. In the past four years, just one captive wolf has been released and within three weeks of its, release it was taken back into captivity.

According to Robinson, the growing numbers is a good sign that the Mexican gray wolf recovery program is meeting its goal and is on its way to success.

Of late, the Center initiated three lawsuits focused on improving the Mexican wolf recovery program by providing the adaptable canines more room to roam. 

Mexican gray wolves thrived in large parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. In the 1990s, their population was on the verge of being extinct, which arose due to human settlements. Their population began to decline rapidly and they were then protected under the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s.