The El Paso Zoo is sad to report the unexpected death of Ivy, the 15-year-old Mexican wolf.
Zookeepers found Ivy dead Thursday morning. The cause of death is not yet known, but a full necropsy has been scheduled.
“I’ve been at the Zoo for almost 20 years, so I’ve been with Ivy since she first got here,” said Area Supervisor Tony Zydonyk. “She was a longtime resident and a great animal. Everybody loved her, and she’s going to be missed.”
Ivy was born at the Cincinnati Zoo and later transferred to the El Paso Zoo. She has been a part of the El Paso Zoo family for more than 12 years.
The male Mexican wolf, Zephyr, and other female wolf, Ash, appear to be in good health. Mexican wolves in zoos have a 12-year life span.
The El Paso Zoo has worked diligently in efforts to conserve the Mexican wolf. In addition to the wolves that currently live at the Zoo, the Zoo has sponsored various Mexican wolf conservation efforts.
Recently, Zoo staff worked with the Turner Endangered Species Fund (TESF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to vaccinate, examine and treat eleven Mexican wolves that were released into the wild.
