Unnatural Selection

    Conservationists, in the case of this article, are using two different methods to restore populations of endangered species. The first method involves closely monitoring the endangered species natural predators in the area, and reducing the interaction between predator and prey. This is done through the tracking of the predators and the prey, and human intervention if deemed necessary. In the case of the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep, mountain lions were killed to protect the small herds.  The second method involves transferring pregnant females from one herd into another to increase genetic diversity. In this case pregnant females were basically kidnapped by humans tangling them in nets and transporting them by helicopters and trucks to other herds. Both of these methods are human intervention intensive and both seem to be costly and require copious amounts of energy and technology. I think the method of eliminating predation of a species will be more successful than than the other method. I believe this because it happens all the time with deer populations in modern day America. Natural predators of deer are hunted and killed off to the point of no return. Deer populations then flourish until they run out of food. So that is what I think will happen with that method.
      Restored populations will have less genetic diversity than 200 years ago because the restored population came from a smaller group of individuals. Most of the genetic diversity was lost when the population hit the low, endangered point. So all the individuals of the restored population descended from a smaller group of individuals than those from 200 years ago. Conservationists are mixing up individuals from different herds to improve genetic diversity. I don't think this can be called the wild. The wild, defined by me, is not interfered with by humans. These Bighorn Sheep are, making them not wild, by my definition.