Why were Canadian wolves released in Yellowstone National Park and Idaho in 1995?

The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park and Idaho in 1995 was a conservation effort aimed at restoring the species to its former range.

Historically, the gray wolf was widely eradicated across the United States due to concerns regarding the protection of livestock and competition for big game. By 1950, wolf populations in the U.S. had been reduced to only the northeastern corner of Minnesota. Following the passage of the Endangered Species Act and a shift toward greater public tolerance and legal protection in the late 20th century, conservationists sought to recover these populations. The 1995 release of Canadian wolves was a key milestone in this recovery, helping the species expand back into portions of its historical North American habitat.12