#captive breeding – Wolf Haven International

by Pamel Maciel, Mexican Wolf SSP/Hispanic Outreach Specialist, Wolf Haven International

This article was originally published in the Summer 2016 issue of Wolf Tracks, Wolf Haven’s quarterly magazine for Members.

Spruce’s final adoption picture (Julie Lawrence photo)

Our recount of these last few months is a bittersweet one. In late March, we lost our dear friend Spruce. He was a sweet 13-year old male gray wolf who passed after a year and a half period of health decline. For some of us, Spruce’s passing hasn’t been easy to assimilate. He was a big white wolf with a conspicuous presence. Every time Animal Care staff was feeding in the area, Spruce “followed” us along the fence line, observing each of our movements. He stared at us with intense focus, as if hoping that every meatloaf, chicken, salmon or treat in the truck was for him and only him. Farewell, beautiful Spruce, you will always be part of the sanctuary.

Willow, T, and Senna

While some go, others come and this spring we warmly received Tecumseh, a high-content wolfdog born to the pet trade. “T” is of shy temperament and has a gorgeous expressive face. He is currently housed with hyperactive wolfdog sisters Willow and Senna, who are making sure his life here is anything but boring. Welcome handsome “T”!

In a humbling expression of the cycle of life, Wolf Haven’s red wolf community experienced a couple of changes. In June we said goodbye to both Jacob (M1405) and Tamaska (F1485). For several days prior to his passing, Jacob wasn’t his usual self. When we took him to the clinic, his blood profile revealed chronic renal failure -a common disease in older canines (Jacob was 11 years old, an advanced age for a wolf.) As his kidneys weren’t functional, the best we could do was help him peacefully move on from this life. Tamaska had a really hard time losing her friend. Usually the remaining companion will grieve for several days, so we allow them time and space to adjust before making any changes or bringing a new mate. After two weeks, she still had no appetite and was very lethargic. We decided to take her to the vet and, unfortunately, tests results were consistent with Addison’s decease.

Red wolf pair Tamaska & Jacob

The most likely scenario is that she had this underlying condition for a while but the stress of Jacob’s passing was the tipping point. They were very bonded and it’s difficult to say what her quality of life would have been moving forward. We could have tried to manage it (the condition is fairly common in certain breeds of dogs) but it would have required catching her up every 20 days for the rest of her life for injections, which is ok perhaps for a domestic dog, but not for a red wolf.

The kindest thing we could do was to help her pass on and join her beloved friend. Jacob and Tamaska lived and died as a tightly bonded pair. We will always have them in our hearts.

On the uplifting side of news, we have red wolf pups! In June, they started crawling out of the den and exploring all the surroundings. Nash (F1945) is being a wonderful mom, taking the best possible care of her kids, nursing them and keeping them safe.

11-week old pups at their health care check (Julie Lawrence photo)

Parents, Nash (mother) and Tala (father)

She initially gave dad Tala (M1482) a hard time when he tried to approach the pups, but eventually she welcomed him to the group, keeping an eye on him and making sure he is delicate and careful at all times. Watching the family dynamics via remote camera is such a delight; we are lucky to be able to learn from them! This litter is a result of the red wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP) efforts. Every single one of these little beings is an invaluable contribution to the conservation of the extremely endangered red wolf, the only wolf species endemic to the United States.

Noel is one of the 19 Mexican gray wolves currently residing at Wolf Haven.

How to save an endangered species

The Mexican gray wolf, native to Mexico and the U.S., is one of the most critically endangered animals in the world. Their population dwindled to only seven wolves when a “survival plan” was put into place.

The Endangered Species Act, which mandates recovery of endangered species, prevented the complete human eradication of the Mexican wolf. By the early 1970s when the Act went into effect, their population was so low that wildlife officials felt the only option for restoration of this wolf was captive breeding and reintroduction to historic ranges.

Precarious existence of the Mexican wolf

Once common from Mexico to Colorado, today there are approximately 109 Mexican wolves left in the wild, mainly along the Arizona-New Mexico border (with one known wild pack in Mexico). A Mexican wolf Species Survival Plan (MWSSP) was developed to manage and oversee the captive breeding program and lend support to the reintroduction and recovery effort of the species in the wild. The MWSSP currently houses approximately 270 wolves in 52 facilities in the United States and Mexico.

Participants of the 2015 MWSSP meeting held at Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City, Mexico.

Because the entire Mexican wolf population was founded by only seven animals, genetic diversity remains one of the biggest challenges to the health of this species. For this reason, careful analysis of each individual Mexican wolf’s lineage and genetic DNA are of critical importance to the program’s success. Participating facilities in the MWSSP program meet annually to assess the current status of the Mexican wolf population and make breeding recommendations for the coming spring. The meetings alternate between the U.S. and Mexico, with varying organizations assuming the role of host agency. Wolf Haven hosted the MWSSP in 2012; this year, it was held in Mexico City at Chapultepec Zoo.

Xochitl Ramos, chief veterinarian for the MWSS's Mexican committee; Pamela Maciel, Wolf Haven's Mexican wolf specialist; Monica Galicia, SEMARNAT (Mexico's environment ministry) representative

Xochitl Ramos, chief veterinarian for the MWSSP’s Mexican committee; Pamela Maciel, Wolf Haven’s Mexican wolf specialist; Monica Galicia, SEMARNAT (Mexico’s environment ministry) representative.

Our director of animal care, Wendy Spencer, and Mexican wolf specialist Pamela Maciel attended this year’s meeting, which lasted from July 15-17. Here are some pictures from the three intense days in which breeding and transfer recommendations were made, and potential candidates for release into the wild were selected (most important, since this is the ultimate purpose of the program). It is a challenging, but worthy balancing act to ensure that not only are the needs of the program as a whole met, but the best outcome for each individual wolf involved is achieved.

Wendy Spencer (far left), Wolf Haven’s director of animal care and member of the MWSSP management group, assess transfer, housing and pairing possibilities with colleagues.

As a result from last year’s MWSSP meeting breeding recommendations, three pair of Mexican wolves at Wolf Haven gave birth to litters this spring. There are currently a total of 19 Mexican wolves living at our sanctuary (11 adults and 8 pups). This makes a total of eight litters of Mexican pups that have been born at Wolf Haven between 1996 and 2015. Some of the first Mexican wolves released back into the southwest – after an absence of nearly 40 years – came from here. Mexican wolves from Wolf Haven have been released in 1998 and 2000. The births and releases were all direct outcomes of recommendations made at these annual meetings.

Mexican biologists, veterinarians and wolf caretakers discuss transfer possibilities with Peter Siminski (MWSSP Coordinator).

Wolf Haven International is proud to participate in this special program that is contributing to the recovery of the Mexican wolf.

A total of over 60 people from Mexico and the U.S. attended this year's meeting, including some graduate students from Mexican universities.

A total of over 60 people from Mexico and the U.S. attended this year’s meeting, including graduate students from Mexican universities conducting research on the biology of Mexican wolves.

Blog produced by Pamela Maciel, Mexican wolf specialist & Kim Young, Director of Communications,
Wolf Haven International

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