WILDLIFE WEDNESDAY March 26th On V.I. Marmots
By Peter Karsten
Dear Nature Enthusiasts thank you for your attendance of the previous Wildlife Wednesday presentations and your support of the Purple Martin Project (PMPP).
We have another Presentation by an outstanding wildlife conservation scientist on Wednesday March the 26th at 7:30 at the Community Back Hall. DR. Malcolm McAdie, DVM, MSc. Wildlife Veterinarian who helps conserve many wild species including wolves, snakes, Bald eagles and the critically endangered Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) will speak to us. The title if his talk will be “Ecology and Conservation of the Vancouver Island Marmot”. Malcolm works with the Marmot Recovery Foundation overseeing the captive breeding, rescue and release of the marmots in their natural range on Vancouver Island. In addition, he provides veterinary services to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Association to rehabilitate animals for release back to the wild. You will learn about one of the world’s most endangered species. Even Giant Pandas exist in greater numbers! The V.I. marmots are endemic to Canada. It lives nowhere else in the world and more specifically in the Vancouver Island Mountain range. Fewer than 30 remained in the wild twenty years ago when conservationists banded together to give the marmots a helping hand by breeding them in human care (ex situ) at the Calgary Zoo, The Toronto Zoo and under Malcom’s management at Tony Barret Mount Washington Marmot Recovery Centre. At one point there were more Marmots in direct human care than in the wild. Malcom will tell us how many there are in the wild today and what it takes to sustain a viable population. This is a most fascinating story that unfolded and unfolds right across Baines Sound in our very neighborhood. The Marmot Recovery Foundation was founded in 1999 it provides on-the-ground research, public awareness and funding for the breeding and release program. A worthy organization to support. We hope you can come and celebrate with us another wonderful event of species conservation.
Wildlife Wednesday is presented by the Purple Martin Preservation Project with funding support by Wildlife Preservation Canada. Entry is by donation.
