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VICTORIA – The plan to save the Vancouver Island marmot from extinction got a $133,000 boost from the government of B.C., Environment Minister Barry Penner announced today.
Spearheaded by the Marmot Recovery Foundation, the recovery plan for the Vancouver Island marmot is a unique partnership between government, industry and the public. The Vancouver Island marmot, about the size of a large house cat, is considered a distinct species. The ultimate goal of the recovery program is to have 400-600 animals surviving in three main sub-alpine populations on the island.
“Slowly but surely, the Vancouver Island marmot population is rebuilding,” Penner said. “Thanks to the dedication of groups such as the Marmot Recovery Foundation, the public, ministry staff and some public-minded corporations, we’re witnessing a comeback.”
Penner took part in the release of two groups of marmots into historic marmot habitat in sub-alpine areas of Strathcona Park on Aug. 9.
A breeding program saw 59 pups born in captivity in 2007 at breeding centres across Canada but numbers in the wild remain a challenge. Only two litters were born in the wild this year. From a combined low of approximately 80 animals in 1998, there are now approximately 252 animals, 162 in captivity and 90 in the wild.
Predation is the largest cause of failure in the wild and several non-lethal approaches are being tried to protect the marmots from predators with mixed results. Shepherding, collaring, relocation, fencing and playing recorded sounds are among the methods used to ward off the cougars, wolves and golden eagles that prey on the mammals.
“It’s been a real challenge to first halt the decline and then begin to increase the numbers in the wild,” said Victoria Jackson, executive director of the Marmot Recovery Foundation. “Without funding from the Ministry of Environment and the help of the various stakeholders and the public, it would have been impossible.”
Captive breeding takes place at the Toronto and Calgary zoos, Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Centre in Langley, and the Tony Barrett Mt. Washington Captive Breeding Centre near Courtenay. The recovery program, including captive breeding and reintroduction, costs approximately $900,000 per year.
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For more information on the Marmot Recovery Foundation, visit www.marmots.org.
To download a photo of Minister Penner releasing marmots into the sub-alpine areas of Strathcona Park on Aug. 9, visit http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/pac/photos/bpenner/2007/marmot_recovery/.
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