History of Elk in WNC

For nearly 200 years, elk were absent from the Great Smoky Mountains. Today, they are one of the park’s most iconic wildlife species. “Elk: A Reintroduction” tells the true story of how elk returned to Great Smoky Mountains National Park after disappearing from the Southern Appalachians in the early 1800s. The film traces the history of elk in the Smokies, the factors that led to their disappearance, and the ambitious reintroduction project that brought them back to Cataloochee Valley in 2001.

Through archival footage and firsthand accounts from legendary retired Great Smoky Mountains National Park Wildlife Biologist Kim Delozier, leaders of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, conservation partners at Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and other community members, this documentary explores the decades-long effort to restore elk to their historic range and the challenges faced along the way.

“Elk: A Reintroduction” examines the relationship between conservation, community, wildlife, and the land, as told by those who helped shape the future of elk in the Smokies.