Dear friends, 

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mexican gray wolf Diane. She passed away on October 30^th at 7 years old. 

Diane was born at the Wolf Conservation Center in 2018 to parents Rosa and Alléno, and her size (she was a runt of the litter) quickly captured the hearts of a global audience. Together with her similarly sized brother, Craighead, Diane taught the world that it’s not the size of the wolf that matters – it’s the size of their heart. Diane was fierce and courageous from a young age, never shying away from a new situation or tussle with siblings. Perhaps she sensed that her smaller stature could be perceived as a weakness, so she ensured her personality was her greatest strength. 

As Diane grew and her family dynamic changed, two constants remained – she was always slightly smaller than her siblings, and she was always next to her mom, Rosa. These qualities also made Diane much easier to identify than her sisters and she soon became one of the most recognizable wolves to call the Center home. She was a key face of the Mexican gray wolf recovery effort, both onsite and worldwide, and she unknowingly connected people to her endangered species. 

We feel lucky to have witnessed Diane’s life from afar and recognize that as much as we learned about her, we never really knew her. That privilege belonged to her sisters, Bria and Hélène, who were Diane’s lifelong companions (and playmates, enemies, friends… you know how sisters are).  

As we adapt to a new world without Diane, we know their adjustment will be much more challenging and we hope they deal with it like she would – with sheer courage.  

We love you, Diane. 

The Wolf Conservation Center Family