Their Loss is Our Loss

Wildlife is not a luxury. A world without wildlife and wilderness would make all of us irretrievably poorer. So, the return of wolves to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho marks an important milestone in our efforts to conserve and preserve whole ecosystems.

We cannot save wolves alone--to work toward saving any species (particularly our own) we must be willing to save whole ecosystems and to respect all the parts that make up the whole. The greatest threat to wild animals is the destruction of their habitats through deforestation, agricultural practices, and the growing demands of an ever-increasing human population.

It is only recently in the history of mankind that we have begun to see that our survival is tied to the preservation of nature as a whole. And yet, the threats continue to grow. At a time when the Endangered Species Act needs strengthening, there are many people pushing to weaken it. At a time when recovery programs for endangered species are needed more than ever, there are forces at work to stop them. For the gray wolves in Yellowstone and Idaho, for red wolves in North Carolina and Tennessee, and for the Mexican wolves for whom efforts are under way to sercure habitat in the southwest, such measures are not just a step backward--they could be devastating.

More and more wild species and the wild habitats they need to survive are approaching a critical turning point. It is up to each one of us to heed their calls and to choose to be the best stewards we can for all wildlife. Different viewpoints need not pull us apart--we can gain strength in bringing all points of view together to answer the myriad questions that confront us.

Once a species is lost, it is gone forever. We must not sacrifice the future for short-term political or economic gains.

The return of wolves to Yellowstone reminds us that wolves have long played a key role in our history, our art, folklore, literature, and lives. It is an important reminder that we, too, have a responsibility to enhance and preserve the wolf's life and future as well. When a species' habitat is preserved, an entire ecosystem may benefit.

So, our challenge is to save not only wild animals, but also the wilderness they need in order to live. We can only succeed if we do this together, and if we do it now.

Maureen L. Greeley is executive director of Wolf Haven International.