Red Wolves are Getting Killed

The small existing population of red wolves in North Carolina was put under protection.

U.S Fish and Wildlife Service captured and allowed landowners kill red wolves. This action is not normal since these animals are up for discussion as an endangered animal. A preliminary injunction was issued by a court in North Carolina. This wants to stop the red wolves from getting killed.

The small existing population of red wolves in North Carolina was put under protection. This happened 30 years ago with the hopes that this animal is going to have a growth in its population.

States officials and landowners were not that pleased with this decision and this is why many wolves were captured and killed. The groups that want to protect the wildlife filed a lawsuit recently that had, as a result, the decision from this Thursday.

The judge said that the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service let landowner kill the wolves without researching to see if the animals were a danger to the humans. This means that they did not have the right to do that.

Now the service needs to make up a plan in order to provide a safer place for the animals and to help the population grow. The judge also mentioned that they can’t take any action unless the Congress agrees. However, this is not the case. Many people consider that the red wolf is not facing extinction and that this animal is dangerous.

Two weeks ago, the Fish and Wildlife service said that they are going to remove almost all the red wolves from North Carolina and keep the animals in reservations or in zoos where they can be more protected and  they can stay away from people. They think that the animals are going to have a bigger population and that they will be better taken care of from now on.

Those in charge of the animals said that they need to raise the population, to have more pairs so that the animals don’t face extinction in the near future. Despite that, they don’t know exactly when this will happen and if the animals will adapt in the zoos.

“We want to make sure nothing is done to hurt this population while Fish and Wildlife is deciding what should be done for their future,”  said Defenders of Wildlife’ staff attorney, Jason Rylander.

Image source: Flickr