Wildlife advocates have returned to court to prod the federal government to jump-start its recovery efforts for the critically endangered red wolf. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has lent his voice to efforts to bring the animal back from the brink of extinction in the wild.

Amid the pressure, federal biologists plan to promote wild breeding among several wolf pairs.

But environmental groups say much more work is needed. In November, Cooper sent federal officials a sharply worded letter warning that “the American red wolf is on the brink of extinction.” He noted only about a dozen remain in the wild. 

Photo: Six red wolf pups were born in April at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. Courtesy photo.

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