Many animals are threatened and in need of help in order not to disappear but the U.S. agency rejects endangered Alaska Wolf.
- The Alexander Archipelago wolves might be endangered but not according to officials
- Wolves on the Prince of Wales Island have declined 75 percent in numbers
- The Fish and Wildlife Service agency refuses to enlist the wolf as endangered
In the past years more and more people are fighting for animals’ rights, trying to protect them and keep them from going extinct. Conservation groups and non-governmental agencies are usually at the top of this issue, but government agencies are usually the ones with the power to decide.
These groups work together to help endangered animals. However, sometimes the ones deciding choose not to support a specific cause. The same happened recently in the case of the wolves from Southeast Alaska.
About four years ago, conservation groups filed a petition for the protection of these wolves. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service has now announced that they will not add the wolves on the endangered species list. Therefore, the wolves will not receive greater protection.
The Alaskan wolves are a subspecies of the gray wolf, called the Alexander Archipelago wolf. They live from Southeast Alaska to the border of British-Columbia and Washington. They hunt and feed on black-tailed deer and usually den in the roots of larger trees.
According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, the wolf population is stable, ranging between 850 and 2,700 individuals. Although after doing some research authorities have concluded that there is indeed a decrease in the number of wolves in the Prince of Wales Island, it only accounts for 6 percent of the total population of Alexander Archipelago wolves.
The decline recorded in the Prince of Wales Island is happening because of heavy hunting as well as road development. Forests being affected, the animals in them were consequently affected as well. However, given this territory hosts only a very small percentage of the total wolf population, although the issue does raise concerns it is not enough to put the wolves on the endangered species list.
Officials consider that given the history of Alexander Archipelago wolves in the territories they occupy, there is no concern of endangerment. In other words, the wolves will go on living here going through changes, of course, but without being threatened to disappear.
On the other hand, conservationists do not agree with the decision and believe that the 75% decline in the wolf population on Prince of Wales Island raises enough concern to enlist the wolves as endangered. Moreover, they believe the official decision means the remaining wolves on the island are doomed as they won’t receive any protection.
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