Red Wolves

Before the 1700s, red wolves roamed abundantly across Eastern North America. However, with the arrival and expansion of early settlers in the 1700s and 1800s, the red wolf population drastically declined. By 1980, red wolves were entirely eradicated from the wild, with only 17 individuals remaining in captivity.

By 1987, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium successfully reintroduced red wolves into the wild through their dedicated breeding program. By 2000, these efforts led to a population recovery, with around 100 red wolves in the wild and nearly 200 in zoos. Unfortunately, since then, the numbers have dwindled, and today, fewer than 20 red wolves remain in the wild.