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Wyoming drops federal protection of gray wolves | Wyoming drops federal protection of gray wolves |
(3 days later) | |
The US government will remove wolves from its endangered species list in Wyoming, allowing the state to shoot the animals on sight in most areas. | The US government will remove wolves from its endangered species list in Wyoming, allowing the state to shoot the animals on sight in most areas. |
The decision by US Fish and Wildlife Service comes after a 20-year programme to grow the wolf population. | The decision by US Fish and Wildlife Service comes after a 20-year programme to grow the wolf population. |
Environmental groups threatened legal action against the move. | Environmental groups threatened legal action against the move. |
There were once almost two million gray wolves in North America, but they were nearly wiped out by fur traders and hunters in the 1930s. | There were once almost two million gray wolves in North America, but they were nearly wiped out by fur traders and hunters in the 1930s. |
In the 1990s, 14 wolves from Canada quickly reproduced after they were released in Yellowstone National Park in north-west Wyoming. | In the 1990s, 14 wolves from Canada quickly reproduced after they were released in Yellowstone National Park in north-west Wyoming. |
There are now thought to be about 270 wolves outside Yellowstone in the western US state. | There are now thought to be about 270 wolves outside Yellowstone in the western US state. |
'Tragic ending' | 'Tragic ending' |
Under the new rules, Wyoming must maintain at least 10 breeding pairs of wolves and no fewer than 100 animals. | Under the new rules, Wyoming must maintain at least 10 breeding pairs of wolves and no fewer than 100 animals. |
But ranchers and farmers in Wyoming have long argued that wolves prey on their livestock and want to be able to control the population. | But ranchers and farmers in Wyoming have long argued that wolves prey on their livestock and want to be able to control the population. |
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead said: "The wolf population in Wyoming is recovered, and it is appropriate that the responsibility for wolf management be returned to the state." | Wyoming Governor Matt Mead said: "The wolf population in Wyoming is recovered, and it is appropriate that the responsibility for wolf management be returned to the state." |
Gray wolves will continue to be protected in some areas of the state. | Gray wolves will continue to be protected in some areas of the state. |
But Jamie Rappaport Clark, president of Defenders of Wildlife, called it "a tragic ending to what has otherwise been one of America's greatest wildlife conservation success stories". | But Jamie Rappaport Clark, president of Defenders of Wildlife, called it "a tragic ending to what has otherwise been one of America's greatest wildlife conservation success stories". |
She added that his group would take legal action to ensure protections for wolves are reinstated. | |
The director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service acknowledged there would be opposition to the decision. | The director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service acknowledged there would be opposition to the decision. |
"You're going to hear, I think, a fair amount of rhetoric of unregulated killing and trapping and open seasons and free-fire zones," Dan Ashe said. | "You're going to hear, I think, a fair amount of rhetoric of unregulated killing and trapping and open seasons and free-fire zones," Dan Ashe said. |
Wolves in the Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, the John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway and the Wind River Indian Reservation will be protected from hunting. | Wolves in the Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, the John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway and the Wind River Indian Reservation will be protected from hunting. |
The new rules will come into effect on 30 September. | The new rules will come into effect on 30 September. |
There are about another 1,100 wolves in the states of Montana and Idaho, and still more in Washington and Oregon. | There are about another 1,100 wolves in the states of Montana and Idaho, and still more in Washington and Oregon. |
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