National Parks and Wildlife Restoration in the Global North: The Case of Wolves in the United States and France

National parks have played a central role in early efforts to protect and restore endangered species around the world. As the hub of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Yellowstone National Park played a pivotal part in the successful reintroduction of gray wolves. But is Yellowstone’s success a function of its unique geography or does it offer a potential model for wildlife restoration in other contexts? While much has been written of Yellowstone’s influence on national park systems around the world, what can the United States learn from wildlife conservation efforts related to national parks in other countries? These questions are explored through a preliminary comparative study of national parks and wolf reintroduction efforts in France and the United States.