Molecular Taxonomy and the Conservation of the red Wolf and other Endangered Carnivores

Name

Professor

Article Review

Course

30 October 2008

Molecular Taxonomy and the Conservation of the Red Wolf and Other Endangered Carnivores by C . Alexander Brownlow

The red wolf or `canis niger ' was declared in 1967 as one of the more endangered species under the Endangered Species Act or ESA , wherein there were less than 100 individuals that remained usually in Texas and southwestern Louisiana (Brownlow 391 . They were captured in the `70s for breeding purposes under the ESA , and by 1980 it was considered as one of the

extinct species (Browlow 391 . Of the 400 wolves , only 40 remained pure for breeding purposes , which were then distributed to national parks (391 . By 1993 , it was said that the red wolf had grown in population , which numbered to 247 wolves at most , wherein 187 of those were in captive breeding while the rest were in the wild (391

As of early 1990s , the hybrid nature and species status of the red wolf were questioned , as specialists studied the biological and physiological characteristics of the said species . They had noted that there was definitely the unquestionable presence and influence of coyote genetic material within the red wolf genome (392 . Because of this , a controversy erupted on whether the red wolf should be listed and preserved under the ESA , especially that it could be a threat to livestock yet , there was not yet enough evidence to suggest or prove that it should not be preserved under the ESA . Researchers since then had battled...