BOZEMAN, Mont. (May 12, 2017) – An iconic female white wolf in Yellowstone National Park was illegally shot last month, according to necropsy results released late yesterday by the National Park Service. The wolf was found by hikers on April 11 and euthanized by NPS employees due to injuries from the shot.
Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:
"The death of this wolf is another tragic loss in the trend of illegally poaching iconic species. Yellowstone National Park’s wolves are unequivocally prized. These wolves are valued globally, and local communities reliant on tourism benefit significantly from their presence.
"Returning wolves to their natural habitat has a beneficial effect on the entire ecosystem. Wolves help restore greater native diversity of both plant and animal species through their unique hunting and culling behavior. Defenders of Wildlife believes in the inherent value of wildlife and our natural world and condemns the unlawful killing of any animal."
Defenders of Wildlife is celebrating 75 years of protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.2 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit defenders.org/newsroom and follow us on Twitter @Defenders.
