|
|
Update courtesy Patrick C. Valentino of the Julian Wolf Preserve
The article below just came over the wire regarding suspension of the release of any Mexican wolves until the USFWS is assured that the poaching will stop. Hopefully this is for the better, because there is always anxiety about keeping a captive population captive, but as "wild" as possible.
The part of this article referring to the Sedgwick County Zoo, pertains to the Species Survival Plan. The captive pool of Mexican wolves live at 41 different facilities in the US and Mexico. Wolves go from zoos and wildlife facilities to designated "conditioning" facilities. The Sevilleta facility in New Mexico (USFWS) and the Turner Ladder Ranch are designated as conditioning facilities. Wolf Haven of Tenino WA also meets this standard. Wolves then go from the conditioing facility to the release pens in the wild.
Currently there are four wolves in these release pens (2 that were roaming wild and 2 females brought to pair bond with the males). The article discusses these wolves.
___________________________________________________
Sedgwick County Zoo wolves stay put after U.S. Fish and Wildlife decides to suspend releases because of poaching.
By Jenny Upchurch
The Wichita Eagle
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has suspended plans to release more Mexican wolves into Arizona in 1999 because of poaching in the area.
As a result, two Mexican wolves will remain at the Sedgwick County Zoo into 1999 rather than leaving this month as expected for a reintroduction facility in New Mexico.
Mike Quick, mammals curator at the zoo, said the female wolf will be sent when the program is reactivated. A male sibling was judged to be not wary enough of people to be released, Quick said.
"Everything is on hold to see what changes are necessary in our ground control to make this program succeed," said Tom Bauer, public information officer at the office in Albuquerque, which oversees the wolf reintroduction program.
Eleven Mexican wolves were freed in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona this year, the first phase of a five-year plan to release about 75 animals. Six of the animals have died from gunshots, five since August in what officials say appears to be deliberate sabotage of the program.
None of the wolves remains in the wild now. The last two, both males, were recaptured two weeks ago and placed in acclimation pens to pair with new females.
"If they do mate, they will be released," Bauer said Friday, but not until the wildlife service thinks the poaching risk is gone. Plans to move four new packs into acclimation pens in January will also be on hold until the investigation is complete, he said.
"Until we can find out who is doing the shooting, we don't know why that's going on," Bauer said. "And until we know why, we won't know how to address it."
Bauer said that 12 agents from federal and Arizona and New Mexico state wildlife services are working to stop the poaching. The killing of a wolf carries a federal penalty of $100,000 and one year in prison.
The Endangered Species Act provides for a $10,000 reward. Private donations have raised that reward to more than $45,000, Bauer said.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
Jenny Upchurch can be reached at 268-6598 or by e-mail at jupchurch@wichitaeagle.com. http://www.wichitaeagle.com/news/environment/docs/mexicanwolves1205_txt.htm