20 years in: Are lobos losing the fight?

Help save lobos!

Dear folks, It was supposed to be a Cinderella story, but 20 years after their reintroduction into the wild, the recovery of Mexican gray wolves is far from its fairytale ending. Mexican gray wolves are down, but not out. Help us give them the ending they deserve. In 1998, I found myself in Alpine, Arizona opening the crates that would give Mexican gray wolves – or lobos – a new lease on life. It was remarkable to play a role in bringing lobos back to the American landscape. But I knew even in that moment of pure joy, they faced a tough road ahead. Today their population continues to struggle to find a foothold. Political ill-will and illegal killings – the number one threat to lobos – still plague the species’ recovery. Just last month, two lobos were found dead in Arizona – a male and a female. Lobos are on a collision course with disaster. We need your urgent support to give lobos the future they were promised. This could be the defining moment for the future of Mexican gray wolves. With their numbers in the wild hovering just above 100, lobos remain one of the most endangered mammals in North America. In order for lobos to have a fighting chance, more wolves need to be introduced into the wild, they need greater connectivity with populations in Mexico and opportunities to expand their habitat into the Rockies and the Grand Canyon. Tragically, their new fatally-flawed "recovery plan" fails to address these needs – and the proposed construction of a border wall would only make their situation more dire. Help us turn the tide for lobos facing potential disaster. Defenders is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over their "Mexican gray wolf recovery plan" that would tip the scales toward ruin. We won’t give up on the promise made 20 years ago when lobos were restored to the wild. Defenders is fighting for lobos – just as we always have – but the challenges are mounting and we need more help than ever before. Will you answer the call for lobos caught in the crosshairs? Their recovery is achievable and I know it will happen, but we are going to have to continue to fight hard for these amazing animals. Sincerely, Jamie Rappaport Clark President, Defenders of Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife | 1130 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036 | defenders.org Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities. Photo Credit: Lobo (c) Wolf Conservation Center © Copyright 2018 Defenders of Wildlife