R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Mexican wolf, Canis lupus baileyi, has returned 1-2 to El Paso as two of them comprise a celebrated new exhibit at the 1-3 El Paso Zoo; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Named Mesa and Chiricahua, the two female Mexican 1-5 wolves arrived at the zoo in December 1998 from the Living Desert 1-6 breeding facility outside of Carlsbad, New Mexico; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Centuries ago, wolves roamed across much of Texas: 1-8 the gray wolves of the Panhandle's great plains, the red wolves of 1-9 East Texas, and the Mexican wolf, El Lobo, that has become such an 1-10 integral part of the lore and legends of West Texas; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The Mexican wolf is smaller and shyer than its 1-12 timber wolf cousin, and their packs are smaller too, usually 1-13 consisting of just one breeding pair, mated for life, and their 1-14 young, who eventually splinter off and form a unit of their own; 1-15 their original prey included deer and pronghorn, javelina, rabbits, 1-16 ground squirrels, and mice; and 1-17 WHEREAS, While they once ranged across most of the Southwest, 1-18 from North Cental Mexico into Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, 1-19 virtually none remain in the wild today; in 1977, the last five 1-20 were captured and placed in a breeding program at the 1-21 Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson; and 1-22 WHEREAS, The Mexican wolves at the El Paso Zoo are 1-23 magnificent animals who represent a real connection to the storied 1-24 past of Texas history and the Southwestern frontier of long ago; 2-1 now, therefore, be it 2-2 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-3 Legislature hereby congratulate the staff of the El Paso Zoo on 2-4 their acquisition of Mexican wolves, and extend to animal curator 2-5 John Kiseda and the entire zoo staff best wishes for continued 2-6 success with this unique endeavor; and, be it further 2-7 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-8 prepared for prominent display at the El Paso Zoo as an expression 2-9 of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Chavez _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 314 was adopted by the House on April 23, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House