Two new Mexican wolves are now at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Winter and Storm were recently introduced to their habitat this week can now be seen when guests enter the North America region, zoo officials announced today.

The Mexican wolf is the rarest subspecies of gray wolf in North America, and they nearly went extinct in their native range in 1976.

Thanks to efforts by zoos and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, there is now a small reintroduced population of wolves in the southwestern United States, officials said.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium became involved with the recovery program in 1992 and since then the zoo has had 39 pups born at the zoo — with one being released into his native range.

After a few years of caring for a non-breeding pack, zoo officials said the female, Winter, and male, Storm, are a recommended breeding pair.

Winter came to the Columbus Zoo from the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, New York, and Storm is originally from Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka, Missouri.

Winter’s transport was done by the amazing, passionate pilots from LightHawk who donated their flight time, aircraft and fuel to assist in this conservation project, and her arrival in Central Ohio was facilitated by our good friends at Lane Aviation Corporation.

Officials at the Columbus Zoo say they hope to breed the next generation of Mexican wolves right here in Columbus.