Mexican Gray Wolves are Slowly Reintroduced in the Wild with the Help of this Conservation Biologist

Ximena Neri Barrios, a conservation biologist, assists in the reemergence of Mexico's once-extinct wolf population. Still, she is also assisting in reducing barriers to entry for young people, especially women, interested in field biology and conservation.

Endangered Mexican Gray Wolves

Trapping and hunting of the Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) almost wiped them out of the wild about 50 years ago, according to Barrios, who is currently a conservation ventures developer for Itzeni Environmental Solutions in Mexico.

Four male wolves and one pregnant female were found in Mexico in the late 1970s, and it is now believed that there are over 180 wolves roaming the wild in Mexico and the southern United States.

"There was no research of wolves when they were wild in Mexico, only attempts to kill them," she adds, noting that clashes with ranchers have resulted in the extinction of many major predator populations, including lions, jaguars, and other big cats.

Working with Ranching Groups

Barrios is also working with ranching groups to figure out how to save the wolves. The fact that wolves will kill livestock also plays a significant long-term ecological role in the region.

"We have to consider the people who live in the district... we can't just assume that all the ranchers are poor," she says.

According to Barrios, there are non-invasive approaches to eliminate human-wolf interactions. For example, strobe lights powered by solar batteries will emit various bursts of light at night, which wolves equate with human activity and thus avoid those areas of the ranchlands.

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Providing Incentives

Incentives is another strategy being tested to minimize tension.

"At the moment, there is no financial opportunity for ranchers in Mexico to protect wolves," Barrios adds, "except in other countries, certain meat is sold in supermarkets with a special sticker that promotes the protection of large predators."

Barrios expressed optimism that improved results would benefit from increased awareness about wolves and closer relations with ranchers.

Getting Help

One of Barrios' other missions is to assist in recruiting a new wave of talent to aid in the conservation of Mexico's biodiversity.

Many NGOs, according to Barrios, are unable to operate solely on government funds, so they request foreign assistance. However, candidates must be fluent in English and have a master's degree to be considered for these grants.

"What's unique about Mexico is that we have a lot of public support for preserving our natural resources," Barrios says. "We have that, but we still need political support to provide jobs for young conservationists."

Future of Conservation

While Mexico has a high degree of science, she believes the next generation must be trained with conservation biology awareness and the skills to raise funds and run a project.

"You don't have to support the already known names," she says. "We want to get to the technicians and undergrad students who are involved in this career direction and help them get there."

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