ST. LOUIS (AP) — Wolf experts from around the nation will gather this week in suburban St. Louis to consider how to help the critically endangered red wolf.

Center officials said Tuesday that the red wolf population in the wild, all in eastern North Carolina, has dropped to about 50 from 100 in the past five years.

The matter took on more urgency in June when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suspended reintroduction of captive wolves until it could study the value of the release program.

The national summit will take place Wednesday through Friday. Experts will make breeding and relocation recommendations, discuss population viability and hear from government officials involved with the reintroduction program.