New Conservation Facility Expands Opportunities for Mexican Gray Wolves Recovery
ABQ BioPark expands wolf care capacity in partnership with USFWS.
The ABQ BioPark has completed construction on a new Mexican Wolf Conservation Facility dedicated to breeding, rehabilitation, and pre-release care for endangered Mexican gray wolves – one of North America’s most endangered mammals – in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMGF).
The BioPark works alongside USFWS and NMGF as well as the Association of Zoo and Aquariums (AZA) to advance coordinated care and conservation breeding; the conservation facility is not open to the public. To help the wolves maintain their wild nature, all human contact will be minimized. The BioPark is planning for the first wolves to arrive later this year.
The conservation facility increases capacity so more Mexican gray wolves can be supported in the recovery program. Mexican wolves naturally occur in New Mexico, making this location one of the most important hubs for breeding and rehabilitative care. Alongside USFWS facilities, AZA-accredited zoos across the U.S. house and care for wolves participating in the recovery program. Because the BioPark is just hours away from the recovery area, pups born at the conservation facility can be easily transported for fostering by wild wolves.
“Through fostering, young wolf pups born in professional care facilities are transferred within a few days of birth into a wild wolf den with pups of the same age so the wild mother raises them as her own. This helps bolster the wild population,” explained Lynn Tupa, Associate Director at the ABQ BioPark.
This roughly $4 million project was funded through the 1/8 cent Gross Receipts Tax approved by voters in 2016, and with supporting funds from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. In addition to supporting recovery through breeding and release, the new facility supports the BioPark’s critical role as a veterinary care center for injured wild wolves.
“The BioPark works closely with the USFWS and when they find injured wolves in the wild that need critical veterinary care, they bring them to the BioPark,” said Dr. Carol Bradford, Senior Veterinarian at ABQ BioPark. “The new conservation facility will provide vital natural recovery areas for the wolves to rehabilitate before being released.”
Over the years, the BioPark has provided critical veterinary care to over 40 wolves. They have also added 79 Mexican wolf pups to the population across 16 litters born at the BioPark.
The conservation facility spans 4.5 acres and includes multiple native vegetation habitats that will provide a home for nine wolves to begin with, and can support up to 20 wolves.
Even though the conservation facility will not be open to the public, guests to the BioPark will still be able to observe a family of Mexican wolves and learn about the conservation program at the zoo. The BioPark is excited to expand its role in the Mexican gray wolf recovery program so more wolves can thrive and return to the wild.