[Animals] This is the Mexican wolf, the ancient warrior who resists and survives

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The Mexican wolf was the victim of an extermination campaign that almost wiped out its species. Today, various efforts are added to restore it
The Mexican wolf is the smallest subspecies of this animal in North America. For the ancient inhabitants of the current territory of Mexico, this mammal was known as "Cuetlachtli", which in Nahuatl means "an animalistic being that attacks".

According to the Institute of Ecology (INECOL), for the ancestors of the Mexicans this wolf was a symbol of war, and, for this reason, it was associated with Huitzilopochtli, the Mexica deity of the sun. In addition, it represented the "brown knights" of this civilization, while it was recognized as an animal of royalty and power.

Over time, the Mexican wolf had to face a new relationship with the human being, one much more difficult to cope with. Because this animal represented an obstacle to the development of livestock, extermination measures were taken during the first half of the 20th century. Currently, efforts are being made to reestablish this species in its habitat, despite the difficulties that this task entails. This is what we know about the Mexican wolf.

Mexican wolf: warrior of yesterday and today
The scientific name of the Mexican wolf is Canis lupus baileyi. This is a carnivorous mammal that, according to the Naturalista database, is similar in size to a German shepherd. His build is slim and strong. Like other wolves, it has a long tail and large ears. The average weight is 33 kilograms in males and 27 in females.

Formerly, the distribution of the Mexican wolf covered various territories of North America. In the United States, this animal was found in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. In Mexico, it was possible to find it in Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Nuevo León, Durango and Zacatecas.

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As can be deduced, from the spaces mentioned, the Mexican wolf is more given to humid and temperate environments. Therefore, its main habitats have been forests and grasslands. It should also be mentioned that this species is very adaptable to different climates, for this reason, it has been distributed, in the same way, in the deserts of northern Mexico and the southern United States.

The habits of the Mexican wolf are mainly nocturnal, although it is also active during the day. It is characterized by moving in herds of 5 to 8 members. These groups are generally families, and they facilitate hunting among themselves. Additionally, it should be noted that these animals, being united, also take care of their energy expenditure.

The main time the Mexican wolf hunts is at night. The prey of this predator are usually antelopes, hares, deer, rodents and sheep.

Towards the end of winter, herds separate into pairs to begin mating, which occurs once a year. Gestation, as Naturalista mentions, lasts from 60 to 63 days. A female can give birth to 35 to 42 cubs throughout her reproductive life.

Towards the recovery of the species
The reduction of habitat and the decreasing number of prey caused the Mexican wolf to begin feeding on livestock. In response to this, an eradication campaign began in the United States and Mexico in the mid-20th century. This almost caused the extinction of the species. In view of the critical biological damage, both nations collaborated, beginning in the 1970s, to recover the Mexican wolf.

Despite the efforts, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) points out that in 1987 the Mexican wolf was declared extinct from the wild. The few specimens alive were in captivity.

American and Mexican scientists continue to work to maintain the species' lineage in captivity, and later in the wild. The efforts have yielded results. Since 2011 couples or family groups have been released in Chihuahua. By 2021, the UNAM estimated that there should be around 35 individuals in the country outside of captivity.

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The National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), through the Recovery Program in Mexico, is acting in various ways to rescue the Mexican wolf. Its actions, mainly, are aimed at environmental education and habitat management and restoration. In addition, there is an interest in compensating farmers, and thereby prevent them from acting against the various initiatives.

As usually happens in these cases, the question of respect for the species is not the only thing that motivates the interest in restoring the Mexican wolf. It is also intended to recover this animal because it helps to generate a balance in the ecosystems where it lives. Without their presence, certain po[CENSORED]tions may increase and others may decrease. Hence the importance of conserving the Mexican wolf.

https://www.ngenespanol.com/animales/lobo-mexicano-condiciones-actuales-y-caracteristicas/