The Trump administration took the landmark step Thursday of removing Yellowstone National Park's grizzly bears from the endangered species list, saying the success of several decades of conservation efforts has boosted the bears' numbers to the point where protections are no longer needed.

"This achievement stands as one of America's great conservation successes," said Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

"As a kid who grew up in Montana, I can tell you that this is a long time coming and very good news for many communities and advocates in the Yellowstone region," he said while making the announcement this afternoon.

Zinke touted the success as a "culmination of decades of hard work and dedication on the part of the state, tribal, federal and private partners."

Only bears that reside in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which includes parts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, will be removed from the list of endangered wildlife. But all other grizzlies out of that area will remain protected, the agency said.