Conservation Management: Yellowstone Wolf Restoration Program & Chinese Analogy

A Presentation by: Bryan Kuek

Outline• Yellowstone Wolf Restoration Program Overview

• Economic Analysis of Human-Wildlife Conflicts Solutions

• Chinese Analogies

• Conclusions

Gray Wolf in Yellowstone

• Largest member of dog family

• Live, travel and hunt in packs of 4-7 wolves

• Packs consist of alpha male or dominant pair and other subordinate wolves

• Alpha male or female lead packs

History of the Gray Wolf

• Before 1900’s, flourished in western US

• Until early 1900’s, extirpated due to conflicts with humans, and habitat loss

• Migration of the pioneers and development of western US, depleted wolves’ primary prey, causing them to attack livestock

• Wolves were viewed negatively as vicious predators that needed to be eradicated

Historical Range

Current Range

The Debate

Recovery and Reintroduction

• 1966- Wolf reintroduction first proposed to Congress because of increasing elk numbers in Yellowstone. Met opposition by many ranchers.

• Early 1980’s- The Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery Team was formed by the USFWS.

• 1987- Defenders of Wildlife offered “Wolf Compensation Fund” to ranchers for lost livestock.

• 1995-1996- 66 Wolves from Canada were introduced into central Idaho and Yellowstone

Reintroduction Outcome

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/delist2007_ppt.pdf

How can we be civically engaged in the conservation and management of gray wolf?

Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC)

• Catalysts: loss of human life, livestock and crop

• Results: a negative outcome for humans, wildlife or both

• Solutions: preventative & mitigation measures: such as financial compensation, law enforcement, self-financed insurance schemes

Economic Analysis

Economic Justification for Wolves

1. Overpopulation of elk• Overgrazing by elk was harming other

ecosystems

2. Reintroducing wolves increases biodiversity• Park visitors would increase, thus

increasing revenue

Economic Problems with Wolves

1. Reduced elk and other large ungulate (bison/deer) hunting opportunities

2. Wolves would kill livestock of nearby farmers• Economic loss through

compensation

Methods Used to Make Decisions

1. Hunting elk, animal viewing, existence value for wolves are non-market

2. Hence, surveys were conducted

3. Results of surveys: Wolves are the 2nd most favorite animal to view by visitors. An estimated 105,424 visitors in 2005 would not have visited the park if it had 0 wolves.

Survey Details

1. 2 surveys: One for Yellowstone park visitors, and one for regional and national households

Outcome 1: Increased Spending

Compensation: Verifying Damages

• Sometimes there is lack of evidence that an animal was killed by a wolf: Under-compensation

• Sometimes the farmers make false claims or overstate losses (the value of the lost sheep)

Compensation: Incentives

• Providing full insurance for losses may cause farmers to reduce spending on protection like guard dogs and fences

• Insurance can also encourage more people to become farmers for unprofitable things, because they are compensated well

Outcome 2: Compensation for Livestock

Outcome 3: Loss of Elk

Comparison

• Problem: grassland degradation caused by hunting wolves

• Purpose: grassland restoration• Measures: introduction of eastern wolf• Result: the recovery of cottonwood

and water resources

Yellowstone National Park

Russian Leopard

• Problem: many subspecies of large cats are endangered

• Purpose: facilitate a substantial recovery and increase in the number of individuals in the wild

• Measures: reintroduce program• Result: the number of leopard

steady increases

Asian Elephant• Problem: illegal hunting and the habitat

alteration and reduction, elephants become aggressive toward humans

• Purpose: improve elephant’s habitat• Measures: hunting ban, promote the

use of methane gas for fuel purposes, Compensation

• Result: humans’ attitudes towards elephant become more friendly, forests increase

Economic Loss and Corresponding Compensation Payment in China

Conclusions• Human-wildlife conflict is a complex issue and there is no ‘one

size fits all’ solution

• Compensating farmers for damage caused by wildlife has been tried as one effective solution around the world

• Key determinants of success for compensation method include accurate verification of damage, incentive issues

Thank you for listening!