By Erika Mahoney
Vestal, NY (WBNG Binghamton) A special guest stopped at Binghamton University Sunday afternoon, Atka the wolf.
The Wolf Conservation Center in Salem, New York, took the three hour trip to share Atka with interested students.
Students learned about the role of wolves in the wild. They also learned about the challenges they face in the United States.
“Right now there is a very damaging proposal from U.S. Fish and Wildlife to remove endangered species protections from all gray wolves in the lower 48 states, with the exception of the critically endangered Lobo Wolf, ” Executive Director Maggie Howell said. “And I asked them [students] to submit comments and I hope they will because I just think hearing from their generation is really important. ”
Atka played around outside in front of the students, eating an orange and rolling in the grass.
Senior Douglas Heigl said the visit was a rare opportunity.
“It was fun, it was also really educational,” said Heigl. “I found out a lot about how wolves are still endangered species and need to be saved.”
For more information on the Wolf Conservation Center, click here.