In order to save endangered species, and improve the biodiversity of an ecosystem, members of a species are sometimes translocated (taken from one part of their range and moved to another). The term reintroduction is used to describe the placing of an animal back into part of its historical range after being exterminated. Such conservation decisions have to be done very carefully so that the animals are not harmed and there will not be a negative impact on the ecosystem that is receiving the new species. The following pictures and short narrative illustrate the reintroduction of the gray wolf, Canis lupus, into Yellowstone National Park - a 2.2 million acre ecosystem that consists of 80% forest cover, 15% grassland and 5% water.
The gray wolf, Canis lupus once roamed across much of the United States. However, by the middle of the 20th century, they were mostly absent from the lower 48 states. The main causes were people killing wolves to prevent them from preying on their livestock and loss of free roaming prey animals for wolves to kill for food when land was converted into farms.
Similarly, wolves once lived in Yellowstone National Park but by 1926, they were exterminated. However, in 1973, the Endangered Species Act was created, and wolves were protected by the federal government, since they were now classified as endangered (close to extinction). The law led to intense research on wolves and education programs to help the general public and students learn about wolf behavior and ecology. In addition, the law mandated that efforts be made to restore endangered species from places where they had been eliminated.
As a result, it was determined that Yellowstone National Park had the space and food resources to allow gray wolves to once again live there. While there was opposition to the plan to reintroduce gray wolves into Yellowstone, by some people in the surrounding communities, the plan moved forward because other people recognized the value of the project and supported its implementation.
Gray Wolf Reintroduction
Yellowstone National Park
Opponents of the plan to translocate wolves from other areas into Yellowstone National Park voicing their concerns at a meeting in Montana while a bumper sticker further illustrates the polarization in the community over the issue of wolf reintroduction.
Introduction
Credits: Yellowstone National Park Aquatic Ecosystem (William S. Keller, National Park Service) / Yellowstone National Park Terrestrial Ecosystem, Crowd Opposed to Wolf Reintroduction, Pro Reintroduction Demonstrations (Jim Peaco, National Park Service) / Bumper Sticker (Norm Bishop, National Park Service)
