TUSCON, AZ - Defenders of Wildlife is offering up to $10,000 for information
leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons
responsible for killing two perilously endangered Mexican gray wolves in
the past two weeks in Arizona and New Mexico. In combination with
rewards from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the states of Arizona
and New Mexico, other conservation organizations and individuals,
Defenders’ offer brings the total reward offered to $52,000.

The following is a statement from Eva Sargent, Defenders of
Wildlife’s Southwest program director:

“Now that the alpha males of two packs have been killed, the
fatherless pups of one of the most endangered animals in the world are
less likely to survive. With so few Mexican gray wolves remaining in the
wild, every wolf – especially the alpha males – is crucial to the
survival of the species.

“These latest killings, along with the sobering statistic that
illegal wolf killings are the leading cause of death for Mexican gray
wolves, highlight the urgent need for greater law enforcement capacity
at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Meanwhile, the Fish and Wildlife Service should work quickly to
develop and implement a scientific recovery plan that keeps Mexican gray
wolves from spiraling toward extinction and helps to set them on the
road to recovery.”

Summary

• Between 1998 and June 2009, 31 Mexican gray wolves
were illegally killed by poachers
• The Mexican gray wolf is one of the most endangered wolves in the
world; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service counted just 42 wolves in the wild
last year
• There have been only two prosecutions for illegal wolf killings, the
leading cause of death among Mexican gray wolves
• More law enforcement presence is needed to solve these crimes and to
protect Mexican gray wolves from poaching

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Learn more about
Mexican gray wolves.