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