Trump signs order to remove endangered species protection for grey wolves

{"heading_1":"Population Growth and Recovery Efforts","paragraph_1":"There were 319 Mexican wolves in the wild in the US in 2025, up from just four in 1998, according to US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) figures. Meanwhile, there are roughly 18,000 grey wolves across the US, though they are still considered endangered as most of their habitat has been destroyed by humans.","paragraph_2":"The executive order does not give ranchers immediate license to shoot wolves preying on livestock, but Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will determine whether the grey and Mexican wolf populations have recovered enough to warrant being taken off the endangered species list within 90 days.","paragraph_3":"Environmental groups have criticized the move, saying it could derail long-term efforts to recover the endangered wolf populations. They argue that wolf attacks on livestock are rare and have little impact on ranchers' income.","paragraph_4":"The Wolf Conservation Center noted that ranchers are entitled to up to 100% compensation for any livestock losses caused by wolves under the current system, with individual states providing funding for programmes to deter attacks.","paragraph_5":"Claire Musser, executive director of the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project, said: 'The Mexican grey wolf is not recovered simply because the population has grown. Weakening federal protections now would put decades of recovery work at risk.'","paragraph_6":"The executive order comes as the Trump administration is seeking to lower record-high beef prices for consumers, driven by drought and an outbreak of parasites in US beef stocks. Ranchers have been frustrated by Trump's decision to loosen restrictions on beef imports to address price rises, putting pressure on their already tight margins.","paragraph_7":"The US government launched a campaign to systematically exterminate wolves towards the end of the 19th Century. This, along with farmers and landowners trapping and killing wolves, pushed them to the brink of eradication. Ranchers still view them as a nuisance, which tackling lethally constitutes a federal crime.","paragraph_8":"The executive order could have significant implications for the future of wolf conservation efforts in the US, with some campaigners indicating they intend to do the same of the US Department of Interior acts on Trump's order.","paragraph_9":"The order comes amid a broader debate about the role of government in managing wildlife populations and the balance between conservation efforts and economic interests, particularly in the context of climate change and changing agricultural practices.","paragraph_10":"The executive order also highlights the ongoing tension between environmental protection and economic development, with ranchers and conservationists vying for control over wolf populations and their impact on livestock and ecosystems.","paragraph_11":"The executive order could have significant implications for the future of wolf conservation efforts in the US, with some campaigners indicating they intend to do the same of the US Department of Interior acts on Trump's order."}