THE  STORY  OF  ANNA​

Around the world, there are many species of animals, birds, marine life, insects, and plants that are in danger of becoming extinct. This may be due to loss of habitat, poaching, unreasoned fear by humans, or other factors. And, once they are gone, they are gone forever. One person who is concerned about
all the endangered species that share our planet is jewelry-artist extraordinaire Paula Crevoshay.
As part of her advocacy for our fellow beings, she uses her remarkable talents to create one-of-a-kind jewels that pay tribute to some of these remarkable animals. Among her many subjects are wolves. One in particular is very close to her heart -- Anna, a Mexican Gray Wolf. This is her story.

By Cynthia Unninayar

Wolves numbered in the millions around the world a century ago but their numbers have declined dramatically, leaving their survival either greatly threatened or endangered. Although the numbers for some species are very slowly growing thanks mainly to conservation efforts, others such as the Mexican Gray Wolf and the Red Wolf remain imperiled. Shown here, left to right, are Paula Crevoshay's tributes to wolves: Okami, a Gray Wolf; Anna, a Mexican Gray Wolf; and Luna, a Red Wolf.

The Anna pendant is crafted in 18K yellow gold, set with black jade, amber (eyes), and diamonds (white, black, gray, and brown). (Photo: Crevoshay)

Around the world, there are two generally recognized species of wolves, the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) and the Red Wolf (Canis rufus). These are then divided into subspecies, including the critically endangered Mexican Gray Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi), of which Anna was a member.
​     One of the organizations that is helping to educate the public about the importance of wolves in our global ecosystem and preserve these remarkable animals is the Endangered Wolf Center (EWC). It was there that Paula learned about Anna. 
     "Anna was born on Earth Day 2001," says Paula. "She was the only surviving pup of two legendary wolves. Her father, Santa Ana, was one of the last pure Mexican wolves of the Ghost Range lineage, and her mother, Tanamara, was a legendary leader in wolf lore from the McBride lineage."
     Because the other two pups of Tanamara's Earth Day litter did not survive, Anna was hand-raised and thus could not be released into the wild. Her role cannot be overstated, however, in helping to keep this subspecies from going extinct. Over her life, she gave birth to 41 pups in four separate litters, a remarkable feat in itself. "Several of them have been released into the wild," smiles Paula. "while others remain in the care of the EWC as part of its Species Survival Plan."
      "I am sorry that I did not meet Anna," Paula laments. "She passed away one day before she would have turned 14." The designer was so touched by Anna's story and the work of the EWC, that she was inspired to create the "Anna" pendant as a tribute to this wonderful wolf and the legacy that she left behind.
​     It is Paula's hope that this piece of jewelry will help create awareness of these often misunderstood and unjustly maligned animals and how we can help protect them. For more information on Paula's other works, visit ​her website, Crevoshay.com or her official facebook page.

To hear Paula's own words about Anna and other wolves, click on the video. 
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