The ranchers and several environmental groups separately challenged the transplant efforts in court. The environmentalists feared lessening protection for wolves could become a death sentence for existing natural populations. The ranchers" lawyers, on the other hand, contented that the Endangered Species Act forbids placing an "Experimental population" in the range of an established one. .
Judge Downes" ordered the removal of 150 gray wolves, reintroduced individuals and their offspring, now inhabitation Yellowstone National Park and Central Idaho. According to Wildlife: "NWF Fighting to keep wolves in Yellowstone," "Judge Downes" Ruled that the government's recovery program is illegal because designation of the introduction animals as "experimental population" under the Endanger Species Act, reduced protection for natives wolves that may migrate into the area" (63). .
Pending approval, Judge Downes" issued a stay of his removal order. .
Good decision or bad, at the moment it's the law-and that's grim news for the wolf. The 66 animals shipped to Yellowstone and Idaho have multiplied to 165; 90 in Yellowstone and 75 in Idaho. Shipping them back to Canada is not an option, since the territory they abandoned has been claimed by other wolves. Placement zoos-where wolves aren't popular-are difficult. "The options," says Doug Smith, Yellowstone biologist, " could come down to one thing: Killing them"(Kluger 25).
Why is the NWF fighting so hard to reinstate the wolves into Yellowstone National Park? I can think of no creature whose fortunes more clearly defined the transformation of our attitudes toward nature. Ed Banks, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FES) recovery coordinator for the species in the lower 48 said, "Acceptance of the wolves represents a social shift equal to the end of market hunting.".
Wolves display a variety of temperaments and psychological quirks like humans.