A Well-Known Endangered Mexican Gray Wolf Named Anubis Has Been Killed In Northern Arizona Prompting An Urgent Call For USFWS To Expand Wolf Recovery Area

An endangered Mexican gray wolf named Anubis was tragically shot and killed illegally in the Kaibab National Forest west of Flagstaff, Arizona, on Sunday, January 2nd. The wolf had become known for his successful forays north of Interstate 40 and beyond the boundary of the current wolf recovery area.

“We are heartbroken to learn that our adventurous young disperser wolf had his life illegally cut short by a human’s bullet,” Emily Renn, Executive Director of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project, said in a statement.

The best available science recommends that real recovery for Mexican gray wolves includes the establishment of a northern Arizona population. A suggested new rulemaking period gives the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service an opportunity to expand the recovery boundary; the public comment period is open until January 27, 2022. Conservation groups are hoping that the federal agency will consider a plan to remove the Interstate 40 boundary.

“It’s infuriating that anyone would kill Anubis after he successfully survived and avoided any conflicts with humans and livestock for the better part of 2021,” Greta Anderson, Deputy Director of Western Watersheds Project, told WAN. “We hope law enforcement moves swiftly to investigate his death and holds his killers accountable under the authority of the Endangered Species Act.”

While the killing of Anubis is tragic, Anderson also called it a profound confirmation that northern Arizona should be part of wolf recovery. Anderson also noted that the arbitrary boundary at Interstate 40 is “not based on science or suitability, but on the continued reluctance of the state game agencies to let wolves be wild and roam wherever they choose.”

Anderson also believes that the Arizona Game and Fish Department could have done more to protect Anubis, including public education efforts, the closure of hunting units, and by promoting coexistence,”

Anubis was wearing a bright pink collar at the time that he was shot. His death is under federal investigation. Mexican gray wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act and killing them is in violation of the federal Act and can result in criminal penalties of up to $50,000, and or up to one year in jail, plus a potential civil penalty of up to $25,000.

Anyone with information about the death of Anubis should call 1-844-397-8477 or email fws_tips@fws.gov. The Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering a reward of up to $1,000, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for the wolf’s death.

Additional reward funds of up to $37,000 have been pledged by conservation organizations and private individuals for information leading to the conviction of anyone who kills an endangered wolf.

Written comments which must be received on or before January 27th, can be submitted during the public comment period either online through Regulations.gov (Docket FWS-R2-ES-2021-0103​) or by hard copy to: ​

Public Comments Processing​
Attn: FWS-R2-ES-2021-0103​
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service​
MS: PRB/3W​
5275 Leesburg Pike​
Falls Church, VA 22041-3803

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