Reintroduction of Wolves Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Reintroduction of Wolves - Research Paper ExampleWhile there ar some demerits in reintroducing the wolves, the merits far outweigh them. For decades, the native species of unification America had been adjusting to the changes in the environment by self sustaining balance of prey, predator and supporting habitat. This ecosystem flourished for many ages without any interference or intervention on the part of humans (Busch, 2007). Yellowstone national park was build with the aim of preserving the wildlife and wilderness in North America. It was sight by the State of Montana that wolves and other predators were destroying the ecosystem by killing too many game animals such as wapiti and Moose. There was plan to eliminate them from the area. Due to this, wolves were hunted and killed by wildlife personnel in 1914. The idea of eliminating wolves made them become endangered species which led to the plan to protect and reintroduce them in North America especially in Yellowstone National Park which had favorable habitat for their survival. The contr everyplacesial reintroduction program has been winning in the sense that wolves are now back in Yellowstone National Park after an absence of more than 50 years. ... es in the Yellowstone National Park started in the year 1995 when wolves were regarded as non-essential, observational population according to article 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. In addition, this clarification authorized government officials to deal with the problems that wolves constitute to the society and it was regarded as series of consensus or compromises of wolf reintroduction pioneers made with the local anaesthetic ranchers and livestock farmers (9news.com). Environmental groups and local industries battled for many years over the Idaho and Yellowstone program of wolf reintroduction efforts. It is important to note that the concept of wolf reintroduction was maiden presented in the congress in 1966 by a group of biologists who were weary of the high population of elk in Idaho and Yellowstone areas. It can be said that in1926, it was the last year that wolves were officially killed in Yellowstone area and over the succeeding years, the elk population and other prey animals had tremendously increased thus, posing a menace to new growth vegetation (Philips et al, 1996). This was as a result of removal of key predators in the area. The wolves were on top of the food pyramid but their absence gave the elk population a fertile grunge to boom out of control. In the coming years species of riparian and aspen cottonwood crashed because of overgrazing. This in turn, abnormal habitat of other species. Despite the dangers posed to the ecosystem by the absence of wolves, livestock farmers and ranchers were still opposed to the reintroduction of wolves in the area citing problems that wolves will bring to their livestock. Yellowstone National Park is the national park in the U.S where many masses visit every year. Conse rvationists, biologists and local business owners