Hope’s tragic end: Help protect the last 257 lobos

There are as few as 257 lobos left in the wild, but we just lost another: Experts found the body of a wolf named “Hope” this winter.

Wolves

Jim Clark/USFWS | Public Domain

There are as few as 257 lobos left in the wild, but we just lost another.

In Arizona, experts found the body of a wolf named “Hope” this winter.

Hope and her partner had made a home for themselves just outside of the protected lobo recovery area. And when they left these protected lands, the worst case scenario unfolded: We lost Hope.

Wolves like Hope are outgrowing their recovery area and paying the ultimate price. That’s why we’re calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand their recovery area.

Lobos need more room to roam

Lobos like Hope are listed under the Endangered Species Act, so killing one of these creatures can result in criminal penalties or fines.

While we don’t know exactly what happened to Hope, based on the fact that officials are offering $100,000 for information on her death, we know that it can’t be good.

Lobos can’t tell the difference between their protected recovery areas and places where wildlife are at risk of being hunted or hit. Without sufficient room to roam in her recovery area, Hope crossed that invisible border to never return.

We know that these wolves deserve expanded recovery areas and a better chance at survival.

Take action to protect lobos from extinction

Before her death, Hope and her partner were a loving family of two. We called them the Kendrick Peak Pack, and seeing them roam further out actually used to be a sign of good news.

It meant that the lobo population was expanding — wolves were dispersing to breed, start new packs, and spread to new territories.

Hope’s natural instinct to roam beyond the recovery area’s boundaries shed light on a harsh reality: These protected zones are simply too small for the lobos.

That’s why we’re calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand lobos’ recovery areas and save these creatures. Are you with us? Add your name.

Topics