Mexican Gray Wolf Numbers Reach 319 in Southwest – Center for Biological Diversity

Report on the Recovery of the Endangered Mexican Gray Wolf in the Southwestern United States

Population Growth and Conservation Status

The Arizona and New Mexico wildlife agencies jointly announced an increase in the population of the endangered Mexican gray wolf, with numbers rising from 286 in 2024 to 319 in 2025. This growth marks a significant milestone in the species’ recovery, considering there were no wild Mexican wolves three decades ago.

Challenges to Genetic Diversity and Species Recovery

Despite population growth, the Mexican gray wolf remains genetically imperiled. Key challenges include:

• Federal and state-sanctioned killings related to livestock protection, which reduce the genetic heritage originating from seven founding wolves.
• Loss of genetic diversity, with the wild population retaining less than one-third of the original genetic variation.
• Inbreeding exacerbated by insufficient transfer of genetic diversity from captive populations, which hold 37% more genetic diversity than wild wolves.

Conservation Strategies and Recommendations

Experts recommend improved conservation measures to enhance genetic health and ensure sustainable recovery:

1. Release of captive-born, bonded male/female pairs with their pups to mimic natural family pack structures, which has shown a 67% survival and reproduction success rate.
2. Reduction of practices such as separating captive-born pups from parents before release, which has resulted in a 79% disappearance rate of pups.
3. Prioritization of strict protections under the Endangered Species Act to prevent premature delisting and ensure long-term species survival.

Integration with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The recovery efforts for the Mexican gray wolf contribute directly to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 15: Life on Land – Protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems by conserving endangered species and their habitats.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – Enhancing ecosystem resilience and adaptive capacity through biodiversity conservation.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Collaboration between federal and state agencies, conservation organizations, and communities to achieve recovery targets.

Stakeholder Perspectives

• Conservation Advocates: Emphasize the need for continued protections and genetic health improvements to prevent extinction.
• Wildlife Experts: Highlight the importance of family pack releases and caution against human-caused mortality.
• Community Leaders: Advocate for coexistence strategies that integrate wolves into ecological and cultural landscapes.

Future Outlook and Policy Implications

According to the Mexican wolf recovery plan, delisting from the Endangered Species Act will be considered only after the population sustains an average of 320 wolves for eight years and 22 captive-born wolves survive to breeding age post-release. However, scientific criteria emphasize that delisting requires the species to be genuinely out of danger, not solely based on population numbers.

Ongoing efforts must focus on:

• Protecting genetic diversity to ensure a resilient population.
• Implementing science-based management policies that prioritize ecosystem health, habitat connectivity, and functioning watersheds.
• Addressing political, geographic, and genetic barriers to recovery.

Conclusion

The increase in the Mexican gray wolf population is a positive indicator of progress toward species recovery and aligns with global sustainability objectives. However, comprehensive strategies addressing genetic health, habitat protection, and human-wildlife coexistence are essential to achieve true recovery and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 15: Life on Land – The article focuses on the conservation and recovery of the endangered Mexican gray wolf, which directly relates to protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, managing forests, combating desertification, halting and reversing land degradation, and halting biodiversity loss.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action – The article mentions threats such as wildfires and the importance of healthy forests and ecosystems, which connect to combating climate change and its impacts.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – The article discusses the role of policies, legal protections (Endangered Species Act), and political decisions affecting the species’ survival, linking to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies and effective, accountable institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 15 Targets:
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect endangered species like the Mexican gray wolf.
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
   • Target 15.4: Ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems and biodiversity, which can be linked to the wolf’s habitat.
2. SDG 13 Targets:
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters, such as wildfires threatening the wolf population.
3. SDG 16 Targets:
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels to enforce protections like the Endangered Species Act.
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making in wildlife management and conservation policies.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Population Numbers of Mexican Gray Wolves: The article provides specific counts of the wolf population (e.g., 319 wolves in 2025, up from 286 in 2024), which serves as an indicator of species recovery progress.
2. Genetic Diversity Measures: The article discusses genetic diversity retention in the wild population compared to captive populations (e.g., wild population retains less than a third of the genetic diversity from founding wolves; captive population retains 37% more genetic diversity), implying indicators related to genetic health and inbreeding levels.
3. Survival Rates of Released Wolves: Survival percentages of adult pairs released as bonded family packs (67%) versus pups released alone (21% survival implied) serve as indicators of effective conservation strategies.
4. Human-Caused Mortality Rates: The article mentions killings by federal and state agencies, which can be tracked as an indicator of threats to the population.
5. Legal Protection Status: The status under the Endangered Species Act and any changes to protections can be considered an indicator of institutional support and policy effectiveness.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: biologicaldiversity.org