AZA Zoos aid in Mexican gray wolf recovery.

Following the near extinction of the United States population of gray wolves in the early 1900s due to increased human settlement, five wolves were found alive in Mexico between 1977 and 1980. This species was listed as federally endangered in 1976, prompting the creation of a recovery team and associated breeding program. Since 1994, 24 AZA institutions have participated in a bi-national breeding program run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to breed and return wolves to the wild. Ninety Mexican gray wolves have been released to the wild since 1998 thanks to the breeding program, although only about 35 are confirmed living.

In 1998 the first reintroduction of Mexican gray wolves took place at the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area, which stretches from east-central Arizona to west-central New Mexico, in hopes that they will eventually expand to their native habitats; portions of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. Reintroductions are often controversial among local landowners, and predation on domestic cattle continues to be a troublesome issue, raising concerns among stakeholders that will have to be addressed. However, the captive population is now at over 300 animals and gives hope to the possibility of a sustainable wild population in the near future.