At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The red wolf is a slender North American canid, smaller than the grey wolf. It is assessed as Critically Endangered and survives largely through captive breeding and reintroduction.
Once declared extinct in the wild, it was reintroduced from captive animals.
Range & habitat
A small reintroduced wild population in eastern North Carolina, USA, plus captive-bred animals.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- A very small population
- Hybridisation with coyotes
- Human-caused deaths
Why it matters
The red wolf is one of the world's most threatened canids and a landmark — and contested — case study in captive breeding, reintroduction, and managing hybridisation.
Sources
Sources for Red Wolf
- IUCN Red List — look up Red Wolf (authoritative status)
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the red wolf a separate species?
Its exact status has been debated, but it is widely managed as a distinct, critically endangered North American wolf. Hybridisation with coyotes is one of the challenges to its recovery.
Why is the red wolf Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite its very small population, hybridisation with coyotes, and human-caused mortality. It survives largely thanks to captive breeding and reintroduction. See the IUCN Red List.
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