putting a species back where humans kicked it out, and hoping the memo reached the ecosystem.
means the deliberate release of a species into habitat it once occupied but had disappeared from, usually due to extinction or extirpation caused by people.
from conservation biology term that gained traction mid-20th century as scientists realized protecting habitat wasn't enough if the animal was already gone from it; you had to put it back, carefully, with genetics and politics both cooperating.
yellowstone wolves — 1995, 41 wolves reshaped the park's rivers and elk behavior
california condors — 1987, down to 27 birds, now flying wild again
european bison — extinct in wild by 1927, reintroduced from zoo stock since 1950s
iberian lynx — world's most endangered cat, rebuilt from under 100 in 2002