Mexican Wolf Project Support

archived

The total financial contribution by the Service is expected to be $35,000 of which $7,000 will be obligated for a period of performance beginning 06/01/2010 to 05/31/2015. The remaining balance of $28,000 is subject to the availability of funds. This is a continuation of curatorial services currently being provided by University New Mexico for the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program. The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement is to provide support for curatorial services for the Service’s Mexican Wolf Recovery Program to ensure that Mexican wolf remains are preparted and preserved according to the highest curatorial standard.The Mexican wolf was listed as an endangered species in 1976 under the provision of the Endangered Species Act, giving the Service responsibility for its recovery. Breeding efforts from only seven founders have produced a captive population of over 300 Mexican wolves which are held in zoos and other wildlife sanctuaries throughout the United States and Mexico. No wild populations of Mexican wolves are known to exist, except those reintroduced by the Service, which now number 52 wolves. The reintroduction objective is a wild population of at least 100 wolves. The remains (hide, skeleton, and tissues) of dead Mexican wolves represent valuable reference materials for future scientific study. The preservation of these materials requires special preparation techniques, detailed attention to cataloguing standards, and specialized storage equipment. The Museum of Southwestern Biology (Museum), Division of Mammals, has the necessary expertise to provide high quality curatorial services for the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program.This Cooperative Agreement provides a mechanism whereby UNM may provide curatorial services by the Museum to include specimen preparation, record keeping, and storage according to accepted standards for such services. The Service began solely using the Museum for such services early in Mexican wolf recovery, and continues to require all Mexican wolf carcasses (from captivity and the wild) be deposited there. A centrally located repository is key for accessing materials for future scientific study. Additionally, the Museum is located in Albuquerque, NM near the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program office. Thus, performance of the Museum can be assured through periodic visits by the Mexican Wolf Recovery Leader. For these reasons, and because of the Museum’s historic and long-term association with the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program, UNM is uniquely qualified to perform the activities.

High