Yellowstone National Park's most famous wolf was shot and killed on Thursday. The New York Times reported that the wolf which was known as 832F to researchers who tracked the animal's movements was shot and killed on Thursday outside the park.
The alpha-female wolf had a GPS tracking collar on it, and researchers were tracking here under the Yellowstone wolf program. Daniel Stahler which is the project director said to the New York Times that her $4000 collar is being returned. They found out from tracking that her pack hardly ever goes outside the park.
"She was without a doubt the most famous wolf in the world, hands down," Vice President of Wolves of the Rockies said to ABCNews.com. "I watched her since her birth, basically. She was an amazing wolf to watch. She was definitely the most researched in the park. ... She's gone"
This fall, wolf hunts was authorized in Wyoming after decades and this death is the eight collared wolf that was shot this year after wandering off the park's boundaries, reports the NY Times.
This fall, the first wolf hunts in decades were authorized in Wyoming. The wolf killed last week was the eighth collared by researchers that was shot this year after leaving the park's boundary.
Jimmy Jones, a wildlife photographer said to American Scientist Magazine, "She is the most famous wolf in the world."
ABC News reported that wolves were listed as endangered in 1973 but introduced into the northern Rocky Mountains in the 90s. There is controversy between environmental groups and the federal government about how to manage the wolf population in places like Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.
"As the wolf was removed from the endangered species list in each state, the federal government has turned over control to the local authorities," reported ABC News.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
