Since Arkansas State University changed its mascot to the Red Wolves in 2008, it has been working toward the conservation of the endangered American red wolf.

Now, A-State is aiming to bring red wolves back to Arkansas. 

According to the National Wildlife Federation, the habitat for red wolves used to range from Texas to Pennsylvania, but now they can only be found in the wild in eastern North Carolina. 

Zac Campbell, a doctoral student in environmental sciences from Nacogdoches, Texas, studies red wolves in his research. 

“The red wolf unfortunately was extirpated, which means they were driven locally extinct throughout their entire range and reintroduced in North Carolina,” Campbell said. 

Campbell said about 250 red wolves live in captive breeding facilities and about 20 live in the wild. 

Jeff Hankins, the vice president for strategic communications for the Arkansas State University System, said A-State can bring attention to the plight of red wolves. 

“We’re in a very unique position to take a national leadership role with our abilities from a marketing standpoint, and from our science and research abilities as well. That’s part of why the national leaders in the red wolf conservation movement are so excited about the involvement of Arkansas State University,” Hankins said.

A-State is working to conserve its mascot by creating a conservation center and conducting research. 

American Red Wolf Conservation and Research Center

A-State plans to open a conservation center, which would house red wolves in Craighead Forest Park, to promote education, research and ecotourism. 

“It was in 2017 that the university really embraced its role in research and education with red wolf conservation and we started developing plans for this center about three years ago,” Hankins said. 

Hankins said this initiative would escalate A-State’s national leadership role in red wolf conservation. 

“The whole goal of this is to have enough captive red wolves that the population is sufficient enough to support release of red wolves somewhere in the southeastern United States,” Hankins said. 

The center would promote conservation through breeding and research opportunities for A-State students. 

“I think it’s a really amazing opportunity for our students, especially those in the biology of wildlife ecology areas, to be able to get a facility like this where they can actively participate with live red wolves. There’s opportunities for genetic research. There’s opportunities for improving and expanding breeding opportunities,” Hankins said. 

Chris Thigpen, an instructor of biology, conducts research on red wolves. He said this project could also provide opportunities for students in majors outside of science including marketing, media and museum studies. 

Hankins said it would also create opportunities for students in education, sales and historic preservation. 

In addition, the center would bring tourists to Northeast Arkansas, bringing in an estimated $60 million over the next 10 years.

“A lot of school tour groups from around the mid south would visit this facility. We think a lot of potential prospective students and their families would visit while they’re in town,” Hankins said. “I really see it as an ecotourism destination that can attract visitors for this unique red wolf education experience.”

He said the national organizations in red wolf conservation and the City of Jonesboro support the center, but A-State cannot move forward until it receives one or two major financial gifts. 

“It is going to be extremely beneficial to both the university and to the concept of national conservation efforts of the American Red Wolf. But, it is pretty costly,” Hankins said. 

A-State already secured a location, but needs funding for a building and extensive fencing in order to contain and protect the wolves. 

Hankins said the project cannot continue without funding, but hopes students, faculty, staff and alumni remain excited about the project and its role in red wolf conservation. 

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for us. We’ve received a lot of statewide and national attention for our work on this and I hope that that can only continue to grow,” Hankins said. 

Research

A-State also conducts research on red wolves as a part of its conservation effort. 

“We’re the repository for all red wolf material in the country. So, any red wolf that dies anywhere gets sent here,” Campbell said.

Campbell is working to create three-dimensional renderings of red wolf specimens, such as skulls. Thigpen said these could be useful for other researchers who do not have access to A-State’s materials. 

“You basically take a certain number of photos from each angle and you compile them all together with this splicing software and it gives you a three dimensional model. You can twist it around and move it,” Thigpen said. 

He said eventually these renderings would be put in a database. 

Campbell said he feels like he is making a difference with his research. He said the best way to help the red wolves is spreading awareness. 

“Any little thing helps in terms of actually making an impact,” Campbell said. 

Thigpen said the main goal of his research is conservation. 

“We want to help conserve these red wolves, but also we want to show our pride in our mascot and really keep the tradition alive,” Thigpen said. “ Let’s actually work to keep them alive to save the species and bring them back.”

Categories: Life