los Centro de conservación de lobos family just got a little bigger! Yesterday Mexican gray wolf F1226 arrived safe and sound after a seamless day of travel.

The 4-year-old is currently settling in adjacent to Mexican wolf M1133 (aka Rhett) to allow the pair to get to know one another through the enclosure’s dividing fence. They’ll be officially introduced to one another later this season in hope that they will make a valuable contribution to the recovery of their rare species by having pups this spring.

La diversidad genética es la consideración principal en la selección de parejas reproductoras de lobos mexicanos. El grupo de manejo del Plan de Supervivencia de Especies (SSP) para el lobo gris mexicano determina qué lobos deben criarse cada año mediante el uso de un software desarrollado para el manejo de poblaciones de especies en peligro de extinción. Esto es necesario porque todos los lobos mexicanos descendieron de tan solo 7 fundadores rescatados de la extinción.

We won’t know the outcome of their union until “pup season” in April or May. But in the meantime, throw back your head and let out a long welcoming howl for the newest member of the WCC family!