Page 28 - AT

A28 SCIENCE
Monday 14 January 2019
DNA of wolf declared extinct in wild lives on in Texas pack

Sutherland said the Galves-
ton canines have effective-
ly quashed a decades-old
impression that red wolves
were a feckless preda-
tor overwhelmed by the
numerical superiority of
coyotes. He adds that the
Galveston group has DNA
that can't be found in the
animal's captive popula-
tion.
"From a practical conser-
vation biology standpoint,
these animals have special
DNA and they deserve to
be protected," he said, ex-
plaining that conservation
easements that restrict de-
velopment along parts of
the Gulf Coast are an es-
sential first step.
A spokesman for U.S. Fish
and Wildlife said the agen-
cy is unable to comment
during the partial govern-
ment shutdown. The Texas
Parks and Wildlife Depart-
ment said in a statement
that the Galveston discov-
ery is "interesting," but "we
do not anticipate any reg-
ulatory changes or implica-
In this June 13, 2017, file photo, the parents of this 7-week old red wolf pup keep an eye on their offspring at the Museum of Life and tions in Texas at this time."
Science in Durham, N.C. Kim Wheeler, executive
Associated Press director of the North Car-
olina-based Red Wolf Co-
DALLAS (AP) — Researchers it's even more exciting to tion scientist with the Wild- ana that eventually led to alition, cautioned that fur-
say a pack of wild canines show that a piece of an lands Network, said it's ex- a successful captive breed- ther study of the Galveston
found frolicking near the endangered genome has citing to have found "this ing program. Those canines pack is needed.
beaches of the Texas Gulf been preserved in the unique and fascinating in 1986 became part of the "We can get excited, but
Coast carry a substantial wild," said Elizabeth Hep- medium-sized wolf." The sur- experimental wild popula- in my mind, we really need
amount of red wolf genes, penheimer, a Princeton vival of the red wolf genes tion in North Carolina. That to let science do its due
a surprising discovery be- University biologist involved "without much help from us group has been declining diligence to determine
cause the animal was de- in the research on the pack for the last 40 years is won- since peaking at an esti- what this animal is," she
clared extinct in the wild found on Galveston Island derful news," said Suther- mated 120 to 130 wolves said, noting that red wolves
nearly 40 years ago. in Texas. The work of the land, who was not involved in 2006. A federal report in can evoke strong feelings
The finding has led wildlife Princeton team was pub- in the Princeton study. April said only about 40 re- in people with livestock or
biologists and others to de- lished in the scientific jour- The discovery coincides mained. who have other concerns
velop a new understanding nal Genes. with similar DNA findings in An additional 200 red with their predatory nature.
that the red wolf DNA is re- The genetic analysis found wild canines in southwest- wolves live in zoos and wild- Conservationists, mean-
markably resilient after de- that the Galveston canines ern Louisiana and bolsters life facilities as part of cap- while, say policymakers
cades of human hunting, appear to be a hybrid of the hopes of conservation- tive breeding programs. need to have a greater
loss of habitat and other red wolf and coyote, but ists dismayed by the dwin- A federal judge in Novem- appreciation for hybrid
factors had led the animal Heppenheimer cautions dling number of red wolves ber sided with environmen- animals. When the Endan-
to near decimation. that without additional test- in North Carolina that com- tal groups that argued in a gered Species Act was
"Overall, it's incredibly rare ing, it's difficult to label the prised the only known pack lawsuit that efforts by fed- implemented in the 1970s,
to rediscover animals in a animal. in the wild. eral authorities to shrink the conventional wisdom was
region where they were Ron Sutherland, a North The red wolf, which tops territory of the wild group in that hybridization between
thought to be extinct and Carolina-based conserva- out at about 80 pounds (49 North Carolina were a viola- species — such as the wolf
kilograms), was once com- tion of law. The judge ruled and coyote — was rare
mon across a vast region U.S. Fish and Wildlife also and to be avoided. But
extending from Texas to the violated the Endangered experts say the thinking on
south, into the Southeast Species Act by authorizing that has changed.
and up into the Northeast. private landowners to kill "Now we know hybridiza-
It was federally classified as the canine predators even tion is relatively common in
endangered in 1967 and if they weren't threatening natural systems and does
declared extinct in the wild humans, livestock or pets. not always have negative
in 1980. The U.S. Fish and The debate over red wolf consequences, but the
Wildlife Service in the 1970s protections could take on policy hasn't quite caught
captured a remnant popu- new dimensions with the up with this notion," Hep-
lation in Texas and Louisi- discovery on Galveston. penheimer said.q