There are an estimated twenty red wolves remaining in the wild. With numbers this low, the future of the species may seem in peril. However, hope for a successful comeback can be found when considering stories like that of the California Condor.

The red wolf is a species that once inhabited the eastern and south-central area of the United States but is now relegated to a mere twenty to eighty square miles within North Carolina. This rapid decline in habitat correlates to a similar decline in wolf population numbers. With only about twenty red wolves remaining in the wild, it is important conservation measures are put into place to protect this keystone species. Such conservation success and inspiration can be drawn from the comeback story of the California Condor.

In 1982, scientists documented only twenty-two remaining California Condors in the wild. The California Condor is a massive vulture that is native to California and has soared in the skies for hundreds of years. However, due to pesticide use and habitat destruction their population numbers dropped to about twenty in the late 1980’s.

Over the past thirty years, the California Condor has made a tremendous recovery in numbers now reaching over five hundred in the wild. Their successful regrowth is largely due to the efforts of breeders and conservationists; similar to such efforts now being made to preserve red wolves. By conserving Condor habitat and allowing natural re-population, this incredible raptor is proof that there is always hope for endangered species; even those as threatened as the red wolf.

Similar to the Condor, the red wolf was once a wide-ranging and important predator species which fell victim to hunting, habitat loss, and human exploitation. Now their total numbers are dwindling near extinction, with only a few hundred left in captivity. It is safe to say the situation facing the red wolf is incredibly dire, with their future almost entirely in the hands of those currently being bred in captivity. It is the hope of conservationists that the captive born wolves will eventually be released into the wild; in an effort to assist the species increase in numbers.

Whether a bird in the sky or a wolf on the ground, it is important that we do not give up on these animals.  Breeding programs, such as those at the Endangered Wolf Center are working to provide a future for these rare animals, but they need our support. Recovering a species like the red wolf is possible, but it will take time and all of us doing our part to get educated and respect all remaining wild habitats.

Image Credit: Defenders of Wildlife