Endangered Wolf Mistakenly Killed by Arizona Officials

Federal wildlife officials in Arizona mistakenly killed a highly endangered and possibly pregnant Mexican gray wolf named Asiza on April 14, 2025, despite explicit instructions to spare her and only target an uncollared wolf from the Bear Canyon pack due to livestock attacks. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has acknowledged the error, sparking outrage among conservationists and calls for a thorough investigation and accountability reforms. The Mexican gray wolf population in the U.S. has rebounded to over 280, but lethal removal orders due to rancher-reported livestock losses remain controversial. Environmentalists question the ethics and training of predator management and argue such errors jeopardize the fragile wolf population. The incident has reignited debate over balancing ranching interests with endangered species protection and underscored the need for improved coexistence strategies. Globally, similar human-wildlife conflicts persist, as shown by the recent killing of a rare Indian grey wolf by shepherds in Pakistan.