The Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) participates in recovery programs for the Mexican gray wolf and the red wolf, two of the rarest mammals in North America. Both species at one time were completely extinct in the wild.
Since 2003 the WCC has played a critical role in preserving and protecting these imperiled species with through carefully managed breeding and reintroduction. To date, the WCC remains one of the largest holding facilities for these rare species and 18 wolves from the Center have been given the extraordinary opportunity to resume their rightful place on the wild landscape.
What is the AZA "SAFE" Program?
Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) is a breeding and management program designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of captive-based animal populations, and prioritize the release of captive animals to the wild. It’s a coordinated effort among zoos, organizations like the Wolf Conservation Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mexico’s Fish & Wildlife Agencies and managed under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
MEXICAN GRAY WOLVES
The Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) or “lobo” is the most genetically distinct lineage of gray wolves in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the most endangered mammals in North America. By the mid-1980s, hunting, trapping, and poisoning caused the extinction of lobos in the wild, with only a handful remaining in captivity. In 1998 the wolves were reintroduced into the wild as part of a federal reintroduction program under the Endangered Species Act. Today in the U.S., there is a single wild population comprised of 286 individuals.
>> Learn More About Mexican Gray Wolves
BELLE (F1226)
Belle was born at the California Wolf Center on April 30, 2011. In August of 2013, the loba was transferred to U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Sevilleta Management Facility in New Mexico. On October 14, 2015, Belle joined Rhett at the Wolf Conservation Center and luckily, the pair got along quite well! Belle gave birth to a litter of three pups in the spring of 2016 and ANOTHER litter of pups in 2017! Fun Fact – This beautiful loba is permanently plump (or big boned…). She's just built that way!
MAUS (M1507)
Just before midnight on May 25, 2016, Mexican gray wolf Belle gave birth to three beautiful pups - two boys and a girl. Maus looks a lot like his father - they share the same nose! In addition to being adorable, the critically endangered wolves are valuable contributions to the recovery of their rare and at-risk species.
JEAN (F1619)
On May 22, 2017, Mexican gray wolf Belle gave birth to a litter of three pups - all females! This is the second litter born to mom and dad Rhett. With parents, newborns, and the pair’s three children born in 2016, the public had an opportunity to study the complex social structure of a multigenerational pack. Unbeknownst to the wolves, WCC webcams allow a global audience to observe their behavior 24/7. Shy and always with a family member, Jean, is the quietest of her litter, but that doesn’t make her any less fierce!
NITA (F1621)
On May 22, 2017, Mexican gray wolf Belle gave birth to a litter of three pups - all females! This is the second litter born to mom and dad Rhett. With parents, newborns, and the pair’s three children born in 2016, the public had an opportunity to study the complex social structure of a multigenerational pack. Unbeknownst to the wolves, WCC webcams allow a global audience to observe their behavior 24/7. Mexican gray wolf Nita, named in honor of a dedicated champion for the loba’s wild kin, has been a spitfire from the start!
LIGHTHAWK (M1564)
At first glance, LightHawk (M1564) seems like every other Mexican wolf residing in the Wolf Conservation Center’s Endangered Species facility: elusive, endangered, essential. But the shy male has experienced something only very few lobos have – the wild. Born around April 15th, 2015, LightHawk spent most of his young life roaming the vast terrain of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests as a member of the Hawks Nest Pack but his life as a wild lobo came to a devastating end when he was removed from the wild in the fall of 2016 for attacking livestock. The elusive male was then flown to the WCC in 2017 via a series of private flights (thanks to the organization Lighthawk) and introduced to a spacious enclosure, where he now resides with Trumpet. The pair enjoyed months of “newlywed bliss,” but their honeymoon stage came to a close on April 30, 2018, with the arrival of three pups - two males and one female! They've welcomed a total of five litters of pups together.
TRUMPET (F1505)
On the morning of May 4, 2016, Mexican gray wolf Rosa gave birth to a single pup – a robust little girl nicknamed “Trumpet” for her loud squeals. Unbeknownst to her, Trumpet had been warming the hearts of a global audience via the WCC's remote webcams. Her fans were elated to learn that she would be introduced to a new lobo in town during fall of 2017 -Mexican gray wolf LightHawk. The pair have welcomed five litters of pups together and nine of their children were released to the wild!
AURORA (f3033)
Mexican gray wolf Aurora was born at the Wolf Conservation Center in April 2025 to parents Trumpet and Lighthawk. Two of her littermates, Brutus and Gaan, were fostered to wild wolf families in New Mexico. Aurora and her sister, Lyra, remained at the Center and quickly howled their way into the hearts of a global audience.
LYRA (f3032)
Mexican gray wolf Lyra was born at the Wolf Conservation Center in April 2025 to parents Trumpet and Lighthawk. At just a few days old, two of her littermates, Brutus and Gaan, were fostered to wild wolf families in New Mexico. Lyra and her sister, Aurora, remained at the Center and quickly howled their way into the hearts of a global audience.
BETTY (F2660)
Mexican gray wolf Betty was born on May 14, 2021 at the Endangered Wolf Center. She's independent and beautiful, much like her namesake - Betty White. She arrived at the WCC in November 2023. Welcome home, Betty!
RIPLEY (M1925)
Mexican gray wolf Ripley was born to the Frieborn pack in New Mexico on April 8, 2019. Just a few days after he was born, Ripley and his brothers Logan and Crosby were removed from their natal pack and were placed with adoptive Mexican gray wolf parents Mack and Vera at the Endangered Wolf Center. Five of Mack and Vera’s biological pups were placed with Ripley’s biological parents in a process known as a “pup foster” or cross-foster.” In Ripley’s case, it was a true cross-foster.
Ripley arrived at the Wolf Conservation Center in January 2025 in hopes that he will welcome pups with Mexican gray wolf Betty. Paws crossed!
HÉLÈNE (F1753)
On May 8, 2018, Mexican gray wolf Rosa gave birth to a baseball team of pups - six males and three females! Although the brothers have embarked on a new journey at another SAFE facility, Hélène and her sister Bria still live at the WCC. Join them on the live webcam!
BRIA (F1754)
On May 8, 2018, Mexican gray wolf Rosa gave birth to a baseball team of pups - six males and three females! Although the brothers have embarked on a new journey at another SAFE facility, sisters Bria and Hélène still live at the WCC. Join them on the live webcam!
RED WOLVES
The red wolf (Canis rufus) is one of the world’s most endangered wild canids. Once common throughout the southeastern United States, red wolf populations were decimated by the 1960s due to intensive predator control programs and loss of habitat. A remnant population of red wolves was found along the Gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana. After being declared an endangered species in 1973, efforts were initiated to locate and capture as many wild red wolves as possible. Of the 17 remaining wolves captured by biologists, 14 became the founders of a successful captive breeding program. Consequently, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) declared red wolves extinct in the wild in 1980. As of February 2025, there is a single wild population comprising 16 known individuals.
SABINE (F2506)
Sabine was born at the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, RI in April 2023 to parents Diego and Brave. Her dad, Diego, was born at the Wolf Conservation Center to parents Moose and Salty in 2015, and was known as MJ, or “Moose Jr”, when he lived at the Center. How exciting that his daughter now lives where he was born!
MAC TÍRE (M2274)
Mac Tíre arrived at the Wolf Conservation Center from the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium (WA) in December 2023. He was born at PDZA on May 3, 2018 and now lives with red wolf Sabine at the WCC. His name, pronounced "mok-cheer-a" is a common Irish phrase for "wolf". We call him Mac for short.
ADEYHA (M2080)
Adeyha joined the WCC family in October 2024 along with his mate Oak and 5 pups, traveling all the way from the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina! They welcomed a second litter of pups in 2025.
OAK (F2304)
Oak joined the WCC family in October 2024 along with her mate Adeyha and 5 pups, traveling all the way from the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina!
JUNIPER (M2564)
Juniper joined the WCC family in October 2024 along with his parents Adeyha and Oak and 4 siblings, traveling all the way from the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina!
CEDAR (M2562)
Cedar joined the WCC family in October 2024 along with his parents Adeyha and Oak and 4 siblings, traveling all the way from the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina!
MAPLE (F2566)
Maple joined the WCC family in October 2024 along with her parents Adeyha and Oak and 4 siblings, traveling all the way from the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina!
SASSAFRAS (F2567)
Sassafras joined the WCC family in October 2024 along with her parents Adeyha and Oak and 4 siblings, traveling all the way from the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina!
TUPELO (F2568)
Tupelo joined the WCC family in October 2024 along with her parents Adeyha and Oak and 4 siblings, traveling all the way from the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina!
RUSTY (m2650)
Red Wolf Rusty and siblings Riley and Georgie were born to parents Oak and Adeyha on April 24, 2025. Check out the webcam to see him playing with his many siblings!
GEORGIE (m2651)
Red Wolf Georgie and siblings Riley and Rusty were born to parents Oak and Adeyha on April 24, 2025. Check out the webcam to see him playing with his many siblings!
RILEY (f2653)
Red Wolf Riley and siblings Georgie and Rusty were born to parents Oak and Adeyha on April 24, 2025. Check out the webcam to see her playing with her many siblings!
MARTHA (F2242)
In April 2018, Red Wolf Martha and her five siblings were born to parents Veronica and Sam. In 2023, Martha was introduced to her mate Oka. They moved to the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina in 2024 welcomed a litter of three pups in spring 2025!
Martha, Oka, and their pups made their way back to the Center in fall 2025. We’re so excited to welcome them home!
OKA (M2048)
Red Wolf Oka was born at Jackson Zoological Park in 2014 and soon moved to the Endangered Wolf Center. From there, his travels took him to Fossil Rim before making his way to the Center in 2023 when he was introduced to his mate Martha.
The pair moved to the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina in 2024, where they welcomed their first litter of pups! This well-traveled wolf returned to the Center with his family in 2025. We're so excited to welcome them home!
PROTON (m2657)
Red Wolf Proton and his two brothers, Scuppernong and Ember, were born to parents Martha and Oka on May 3, 2025 at the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina. The pups were named through a raffle, with the winning entries thoughtfully paying homage to the natural world, molecular science, and North Carolina’s native flora.
In fall 2025, the pack moved up north to the Center to enjoy a larger habitat as their family grows.
EMBER (m2656)
Red Wolf Ember and his two brothers, Scuppernong and Proton, were born to parents Martha and Oka on May 3, 2025 at the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina. The pups were named through a raffle, with the winning entries thoughtfully paying homage to the natural world, molecular science, and North Carolina’s native flora.
In fall 2025, the pack moved up north to the Center to enjoy a larger habitat as their family grows.
SCUPPERNONG (m2658)
Red Wolf Scuppernong and his two brothers, Proton and Ember, were born to parents Martha and Oka on May 3, 2025 at the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina. The pups were named through a raffle, with the winning entries thoughtfully paying homage to the natural world, molecular science, and North Carolina’s native flora.
In fall 2025, the pack moved up north to the Center to enjoy a larger habitat as their family grows.