Mexican Gray Wolf Pups Get Names

Brookfield, IL — The three Mexican gray wolf puppies at the Brookfield Zoo have been named Rio, Azul and Ela, based on more than 20,000 online votes in the naming contest.

In Spanish, Rio means river and Ela means Earth. Azul, which means blue in Spanish, evokes Arizona's Blue Range Mountains, where Mexican gray wolves are released as part of a recovery program, according to the Chicago Zoological Society.

The puppies at the zoo are 11 weeks old, and they're almost fully weaned. They've been eating solid food, including deer and elk meat.

"They continue to grow by leaps and bounds and are very playful as they continue to explore their habitat at the zoo’s Regenstein Wolf Woods," according to CZS.

Two other puppies born in the same litter with Rio, Azul and Ela were placed this spring with the wild Elk Horn Pack in Arizona as part of the wolf recovery program.

Anyone who would like to help care and provide for the Mexican gray wolf family can join the Share the Care program. To adopt the wolf family and for more information, visit CZS.org/SharetheCare.

Photos courtesy of the Chicago Zoological Society.