Page 26 - Bookfield Zoo Chicago Annual Report 2024

MEXICAN WOLF Recovery Program

Brookfield Zoo Chicago has been Ahote’s older brother, Joe Jr.,
involved with providing critically was transferred to Ladder Ranch in
endangered Mexican wolves for New Mexico in late 2023 at the recom-
reintroduction to the wild to enhance mendation of the Program. At nearly
the genetic diversity of the overall 2 years old, he is reaching an age to
population of the species. We have sire pups of his own. It is possible that
coordinated the fostering of pups Ahote may one day be released to the
born at Brookfield Zoo Chicago into wild or paired with a female at one
wild wolf dens with the U.S. Fish and of the other facilities that participates
Wildlife Service (USFWS) Mexican in the Program as well.
Wolf Recovery Program. This spring
th
This year marked the 25 anniversary
saw 16 total pups fostered into packs
of Mexican wolf reintroduction to
via the program, with Brookfield Zoo
the wild, and the Program continues
Chicago contributing the largest
to make significant strides in
number of pups.
the recovery of the critically endan-
On April 27, seven healthy wolf pups gered species.
were born at the Zoo to mother
Vivillette and father Amigo. Of these
MEXICAN WOLF pups, six siblings—four males and
two females—were transferred in
Regenstein Wolf Woods
early May to be fostered by wild
Mexican wolf packs in southeast
Arizona and southwest New Mexico
as part of the Program. The seventh
pup, Ahote, remained at Brookfield
Zoo Chicago, and continues to
grow and thrive.

22 BROOKFIELD ZOO CHICAGO