The Killing of Wolf Number Ten: The True Story

"This is the story of the first wolves reintroduced to the area of Yellowstone, and it demonstrates how many factors, from political to emotional, came together. The Killing of Wolf No. 10 is a very sad but wonderful tale of a wolf who lived a short but spectacular life; it perfectly depicts the typical confrontation between wolves and communities, seen across many parts of the world. This is probably one of the most controversial topics among the scientific community. There is no single answer to the question. It also depends on the geographical area we are talking about. In many cases, the wolf, if left alone, is able to expand and repopulate large areas without the need for specific reintroductions, as is happening now in Spain. In other areas, like Japan, reintroductions would be the only way to bring back wolves from extinction. (Wolves used to live in Japan until 1905.) This is seen as a way to (re)introduce an apex predator to the ecosystem, which is essential for sustainability and avoids the overpopulation of ungulates. Yellowstone’s reintroduction is always cited as an example of this. However, most of these repopulations or reintroductions face opposition from ranchers and hunters, and in most cases, there is a strong political pressure not to pursue it."