“Two Middle Fork pups in the summer of 2011” USFWS
The number of Mexican gray wolves has increased to 83. That’s up from 75 last year but the feds have much more to do, to make good on their promises to recover this critically endangered wolf.
Wolf population growing, but not enough to please advocates
PHOENIX – The number of Mexican gray wolves roaming eastern Arizona and western New Mexico increased by eight to 83 wolves in the past year, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Noting that the population has increased for four straight years, federal and state officials said in a news release that the recovery program has saved the Mexican gray wolf from extinction. However, wildlife advocates said that the effort hasn’t gone far enough to ensure the species’ genetic diversity.
“I’m happy we have seen an increase in population for four years in a row,” said Michael Robinson, a conservation advocate for the Tucson-based Center of Biological Diversity. “What’s worrisome is the number of breeding pairs.”
A group of seven wolves was released in the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area in 1998, starting the reintroduction program. Since then, the U.S. Wildlife and Fish Service has been managing and keeping track of the wolf population while also introducing captive wolves into the wild.
Robinson said there isn’t enough genetic variability among the wild wolves because officials haven’t released enough captive wolves.
“The original genetic diversity has not been maximized, and this means smaller litter sizes and lower pup survival rates,” he said.
Read More: http://cronkitenewsonline.com/2014/02/wolf-population-growing-but-not-enough-to-please-advocates/
This was the situation just 3 1/2 years ago:
Mexican Gray Wolves On The Brink!
https://howlingforjustice.wordpress.com/2010/07/04/mexican-gray-wolves-on-the-brink/
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Photo: Courtesy USFWS
Posted in: Mexican Gray Wolf
Tags: Mexican gray wolf, critically endangered, inbreeding, more releases needed. expand wolves’ range, USFWS
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Thinking good thoughts for the Mexican Wolf. The Red Wolf is in a similar situation. http://redwolves.com/wp/
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Reblogged this on Wolf Is My Soul.
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I am searching for ways to get more animal lovers aware of your site. Please consider submitting to this one, http://www.animalsmattertoo.com/celebrities.htm
Wolves need a celebrity, and soon! Bob Barker is working with ADI rescuing circus cats… Kevin Costner is a natural pic because made him a bigger star, but he isnt listed as an animal lover..
I will continue to lobby my legislators but hope you can find a well known spokesperson..
Sincerely,
Debra Taylor Dltaylor521@hotmail.com
Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE Smartphone
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I completely agree D Taylor, the wolves need a celebrity spokesperson. It would help break the glass ceiling we’re up against. The press won’t cover it because it makes Obama look bad. But we are working on this and hope to have a celeb in the not so distant future.
For the wolves, For the wild ones,
Nabeki
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[…] Mexican Gray Wolf Numbers Increase But Still A Long Way To Go….. […]
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Reblogged this on Exposing the Big Game.
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It’s almost hard to enjoy a victory for wolves, because the Arizona politicians are already trying to find a way to destroy these poor wolves. So it’s the State of Arizona vs. the Mexican Wolf. These terrible people are bullies. I’m afraid to feel joy for the return of this animal, because someone out there will try to destroy them, and I feel robbed.
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PBS broadcast a wolf recovery last weekend that took place in Yellowstone National Park. The program included comments from Defenders of Wildlife, which has a huge animal advocate following. One of the Defender authorities stated that Defenders does not mind hunting wolves as long as the wolves are hunted in the same way as other wildlife and the number of wolves killed do not threaten their extinction. That was quite surprising to us since we assumed that Defenders was against hunting, their ads covering many states that implied otherwise. I wonder how many other wolf advocates who support Defenders were aware that Defenders is OK with killing wolves?
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Yes, Linda, sadly they have no problem with wolf hunting and I don’t think many people know that. In fact I believe most of the big greens have abandoned wolves. They talk big but when it comes down to it, what have they really done? The mistake we all made back in 2009 is putting our faith in the big enviro groups to save wolves but in the end it was the wrong way to go. The wolf haters made an end run around the courts and influenced Congress to delist wolves. The only hope for wolves is a strong grass roots movement. As Margaret Mead famously said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
For the wolves, For the wild ones,
Nabeki
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[…] Mexican Gray Wolf Numbers Increase But Still A Long Way To Go….. […]
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Finally, some good news, for the first time in forever! I know that they still have a long way to go before they can be declared recovered, but it’s always reassuring to see the population of this critically endangered wolf increasing.
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