LightHawk, a non-profit organization that relies on volunteer general aviation pilots, completed the successful transport of 15 endangered gray wolves from British Columbia, Canada, to Colorado Jan. 16, 2025.
The mission, completed over three flights by volunteer pilots in a Pilatus PC-12, ensured the safe transport of the wolves and their handlers, according to Lighthawk officials. Upon arriving in Colorado, the wolves were transferred by Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff for their reintroduction into the wild.
“This collaborative effort reflects the invaluable role aviation can play in conservation,” said Jim Becker, CEO of LightHawk. “By minimizing stress and facilitating efficient transport, we support critical conservation efforts for the recovery and long-term survival of these and other endangered species.”
This marks the second transport mission by LightHawk as part of Colorado Park and Wildlife’s wolf reintroduction plan, mandated by voters in Colorado. Previous flights in December 2023 involved the relocation of 10 gray wolves from Oregon to Colorado, with the animals later released back into their natural habitats.
LightHawk’s volunteer pilots donated more than 30 hours of turbine aircraft time to facilitate the movement of the 15 wolves to Colorado.
For more than 45 years, LightHawk has partnered with scientists, researchers, and state and local agencies across North America to advance the conservation of natural resources. This includes transporting and monitoring threatened and endangered species, documenting natural and human impacts in ecosystems, and increasing public awareness through aerial imagery, officials explained.
LightHawk has transported a wide variety of endangered species, including Mexican and red wolves, black-footed ferrets, white abalone, California condors, whooping cranes, masked bobwhite quail, and more.
For more information: Lighthawk.org
