Red wolves are on the brink of extinction with fewer than 100 animals
surviving in a small part of eastern North Carolina. Despite this, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the agency in charge of ensuring
this wolf’s survival, appears to be quietly walking away from their red
wolf recovery program, dooming these wolves to extinction in the wild.
After being hunted to the brink of extinction, FWS was entrusted to
help save these shy wolves. Yet last year, 10 percent of the red wolf
population was killed, and another five percent lay dead so far this
year.
What’s worse, key staff vacancies are going unfilled at the FWS Red
Wolf Recovery Program, critical field work is being skipped, and most
telling of all – there has not been a single red wolf released into the wild in years.
Under pressure from
North Carolina special interests, FWS appears to be walking away from
this recovery program and all red wolf recovery efforts.
You may recall Defenders went to court last year to successfully stop
night hunting of coyotes in red wolf habitat. The two animals are
strikingly similar in appearance which has led to dozens of “accidental”
red wolf shootings.
Defenders will take whatever action is necessary to stop this tragedy.
We’ve simply come too far to give up on these magnificent creatures - there is no excuse for walking away now.
Thanks for all you do.
Sincerely,
Jamie Rappaport Clark
President, Defenders of Wildlife |
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