Why did the Canadian government protect musk oxen in the early 20th century?

The Canadian government protected musk oxen in the early 20th century because their populations had been severely depleted by hunting during the late 19th century.1

The species' natural defensive formation—where adults encircle their young to face predators—made them particularly vulnerable to human hunters. To prevent their extinction on the North American mainland, the government established the Thelon Game Sanctuary in 1927 within the Northwest Territories, which successfully preserved the remaining population.1