Colorado wildlife officials released 15 wolves from Canada into the central mountains over the last week as part of the second wave of the state’s historic, voter-mandated reintroduction of the native predator.

A year after Colorado kicked off its historic wolf restoration program, the state has brought a second group of Canadian wolves to the Western Slope.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says 15 more wolves are now in the state as part of the revitalization effort for the species. The animals were released in Eagle and Pitkin Counties.

Colorado officials captured 15 wolves from British Columbia and released them onto the Western Slope on Jan. 12, 14, and 16.

A second group of wolves has been released in Colorado as part of a controversial, voter-driven initiative to reintroduce the predators to the state. Fifteen gray wolves from Canada were set free in the central mountains over three days last week,

This week, more wolves were released in Colorado as part of an initiative to reintroduce the species to the state. The gray wolf has been endangered in the United States for many years, and recent poaching and habitat loss have further diminished their numbers.