For one thing, when it comes to species reintroduction, one observer's failure is another's success. An effort to restore Mexican wolves to New Mexico and Arizona was halted last year, for example, when 4 of 11 wolves released had been shot and a fifth was missing. But the wolves otherwise seemed to be adapting well. In fact, federal wildlife managers plan to resume the program in the spring. But to many, reintroductions raise important questions about human stewardship of the animal kingdom.
Critics say it's wrong to expect nature to conform to human expectations.
I do, too. But it's not fair to put them out there when they're just going to die. He is among those who believe there isn't enough prey base for the tuft-eared wild cats, which eat snowshoe hares almost exclusively. For supporters, however, the sacrifice can be worth it because ripple effects from species reintroductions benefit entire ecosystems. It's about restoring what we should have gotten from our forefathers, and managing it for future generations.