U.S. Department of the InteriorOFFICE OF THE SECRETARY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 1998 Stephanie Hanna (O) 202/208-6416 STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT ON THE COURT OF APPEALS DECISION REGARDING WOLF REINTRODUCTIONI am very pleased that a federal court of appeals has given a ringing endorsement to our wolf reintroduction program in Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. The court clearly agreed that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s reintroduction program is fully consistent with the Endangered Species Act, and expressly disapproved the reasoning of a Wyoming district court that had struck down the program. The Wyoming decision, which has been stayed pending appeal, is now before another federal court of appeals in Denver Wolf reintroduction is a powerful demonstration of this Nation’s commitment to protecting and restoring endangered species. Tuesday’s decision is a welcome vindication of our efforts to preserve this magnificent species -DOI- [Note: The court decision, from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, resulted in upholding the conviction of a man prosecuted for unlawfully shooting one of the wolves reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park.] U.S. Department of the Interior |