Pressure is mounting on the Obama administration to protect endangered red wolves.
The Fish and Wildlife Service last year suspended a program that reintroduced red wolves into the wild, but nearly 500,000 animal rights activists petitioned the agency on Wednesday to restore the protections.
{mosads}There are an estimated 45 red wolves remaining in the wild, and they are still included on the endangered species list.
The petition organizers include the Center for Biological Diversity, Animal Welfare Institute, Endangered Species Coalition and Wildlands Network.