Trump signs order to remove endangered species status for grey wolves - BBC News

The US president says the move will help ranchers, but conservationists say it could derail efforts to recover populations.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, There were 319 Mexican wolves in the wild in the US in 2025, up from just four in 1998

Donald Trump has signed an executive order to remove endangered species protection for the grey wolf and a subspecies, the Mexican wolf.

The US president's decision could pave the way for pastoral farmers to kill the canines to protect their livestock. His order said ranchers played a "vital role" in the food supply chain and American cultural heritage.

But conservation groups have criticised the move, saying it could derail long-term efforts to recover the endangered wolf populations.

There were 319 Mexican wolves in the wild in the US in 2025, up from just four when they were reintroduced in 1998, US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) figures show.