Endangered gray wolf to be released into wild
An endangered Mexican gray wolf will be released into the wild from Brookfield Zoo to a refuge in New Mexico.
The Chicago Zoological Society runs Brookfield Zoo and says the female wolf will be moved Saturday to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge. They say the 4 1/2-year-old wolf, named Ernesta, will be paired with a mate for potential release. Wildlife biologists will put the pair through a "boot camp" to prepare them for the wild.
Zoo officials say the release will boost the species' wild population, which is about 60 in New Mexico and Arizona. They also say Ernesta's release will help foster genetic diversity.
Ernesta has been at Brookfield Zoo since 2010. There are 283 Mexican wolves living in 52 institutions across the U.S.
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.