SOUTH SALEM, New York (May 13 ,2016) – Mother’s Day came early for a critically endangered Mexican gray wolf living at the Centre de conservation des loups (WCC) in New York’s Westchester County. On the morning of May 4th, Mexican gray wolf F1143 gave birth to a single pup – a robust male nicknamed “Trumpet” for his loud squeals. During the pup’s first health check on May 12th, WCC staff and volunteers confirmed the top-notch pup-rearing skills of the first-time parents, their firstborn is healthy and very cute to boot. But beyond being “adorable,” the pocket-size predator represents the Center’s active participation in an effort to save a species on the brink of extinction. 

Le WCC est l'un des 54 établissements aux États-Unis et au Mexique qui participent au plan mexicain de survie des espèces de loups - une initiative binationale dont le but principal est de soutenir le rétablissement des loups mexicains dans la nature par l'élevage en captivité, l'éducation du public et la recherche.

Étant donné que l'ensemble de la population de loups mexicains existants descend de seulement sept fondateurs sauvés de l'extinction, la santé génétique est la principale considération régissant non seulement les appariements reproducteurs, mais également les efforts de libération en captivité dans la nature. Bien que les deux composants soient également essentiels au rétablissement du loup mexicain, les événements de libération sont beaucoup moins fréquents qu'une reproduction réussie.

“Unfortunately state politics have too often blocked U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) release efforts,” explained WCC Executive Director Maggie Howell, “so wolves essential to the genetic health of the wild population remain in captivity. The Service has a responsibility under federal law to facilitate recovery of the critically endangered species and releases are a central part of that effort.”
In recent positive steps toward recovery, FWS has forged ahead despite political opposition by ushering captive wolves into the wild through its pup-fostering initiative. Pup-fostering is a coordinated event where captive-born pups are introduced into a similar-aged wild litter so the pups can grow up as wild wolves. Mexican wolf F1143’s pup was not eligible for wild-foster because it’s key that the captive litter comprise of a handful of pups and the timing wasn’t right. F1143 gave birth a bit later than her wild counterparts.

“Although we hoped pups from our center would receive the ‘call of the wild’,” said WCC curator Rebecca Bose, “we’re elated that there have been so many foster events this year! Pup-fostering is an incredibly effective tool for augmenting the genetic health of the wild population.”

“Maybe next year some Mexican wolf pups from the WCC will get this amazing opportunity,” Howell continued, “in the meantime, we’re counting on FWS to continue with releases beyond pup season because recovery demands releasing more family groups into the wild too.”

The new wolf parents and pup are not on public exhibit, but thirteen live webcams, available on the WCC website, invite an unlimited number of viewers to enter the private lives of these elusive creatures. Two additional wolf couples – one Mexican gray wolf pair and one red wolf pair – were also designated to breed this year. So the WCC staff and supporters will remain glued to various webcams to behold the rare pup and hopefully witness the arrival of more potential pups in the coming weeks.

Arrière plan

Le loup gris mexicain (Canis lupus baileyi) ou "lobo" est la lignée de loups la plus génétiquement distincte de l'hémisphère occidental et l'un des mammifères les plus menacés d'Amérique du Nord. Au milieu des années 1980, la chasse, le piégeage et l'empoisonnement ont provoqué l'extinction des lobos à l'état sauvage, avec seulement une poignée restant en captivité. En 1998, les loups ont été réintroduits dans la nature dans le cadre d'un programme fédéral de réintroduction en vertu de la Loi sur les espèces en voie de disparition. Aujourd'hui aux États-Unis, il existe une seule population sauvage comprenant seulement 97 individus - une diminution par rapport aux 110 recensés fin 2014.