Return of the Wolf (2000)

The well-awaited National Geographic Special, "Return of the Wolf," about the gray wolf recovery project in Yellowstone. The feature length special was filmed and produced by Bob Landis, a veteran wildlife film-maker that has made Yellowstone his home. His film triumphs in providing an unprecedented perspective on wild wolves. The ~55-minute production loosely follows the saga of the Druid Peak Pack. Beginning with the wolves' capture and subsequent release into Yellowstone, the story unfolds with several major events in the history of the Druids. The death of big Wolf 38, the original alpha male of the pack, is depicted with heart-breaking clarity. The loss of the alpha male is resolved when a Rose Creek wolf, #21, encounters the Druid pack in a never-before-filmed sequence of tenuous first-time introductions and eventual acceptance. Wolf 21 is the current alpha male of the pack to this day and his pack take-over stands out as one of the finest moments of wild wolf behavior captured on film.