Eight red wolves were first released into Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in 1987. The group consisted of four male-female pairs released in September as part of an experimental population and reintroduction program.
The release was a major step in restoring red wolves to the wild in northeastern North Carolina. By that point, the species had disappeared from most of its historical range, and conservationists were testing whether captive-bred animals could establish a self-sustaining population in suitable habitat.
Alligator River was selected because its large mix of wetlands, forests, and low human density offered room for the wolves to establish territories. The recovery area later expanded to include additional national wildlife refuges, public lands, and private property across eastern North Carolina.
The number is sometimes confused with earlier experimental releases. In 1976, two red wolves were placed on Bulls Island in South Carolina to test monitoring and translocation methods; another pair was used there in 1978. The 1987 Alligator River release was different: eight wolves were intended to begin a permanent wild population.