How did Mexican wolves return to parts of Arizona?

The Mexican wolf, a subspecies of the gray wolf, was nearly eradicated from the southwestern United States and Mexico by the mid-20th century due to conflicts with livestock interests.12

To revive the species, the United States and Mexico established joint recovery programs. As part of these efforts, Mexican wolves that had been reared in captivity were released back into their former range in eastern Arizona beginning in 1998. These conservation initiatives, which also involve protecting habitats and water sources, have helped the population recover; a 2023 census by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified at least 257 of these animals living in Arizona and New Mexico.213