Why reintroduce red wolves?
The essential reasons are to prevent species extinction and to restore the ecosystems where wolves once occurred. It is important to protect all members of an ecosystem, including predators, if we intend to preserve the environment and be good stewards of the land. Predators maintain the balance and health of ecosystems by controlling over-populations of prey species and removing unhealthy animals. The Endangered Species Act requires recovery plans for endangered species. The recovery population goal in the Red Wolf Recovery Plan is 550 (at least three wild populations totaling 220 wolves, and 330 wolves in captivity at 30 or more facilities). Lessons learned in the Red Wolf Recovery Program have served, and will continue to serve, as a model for recovery of other species whose only hope for survival is reintroduction.
