Cochrane Ecological Institute (4/25/2010)

Following our last visit to Cochrane Ecological Institute - Cochrane Wildlife Reserve Society , many enthusiastic volunteers indicated they would like to spend more time helping CEI with their important work. So here's another project for us:

Today we will be completing the lynx enclosure. 2 Lynx kittens need to be relocated into the Swift Fox enclosure, which is next to their current enclosure. Thus, the current Swift Fox enclosure needs to be expanded and the current fence heightened. We got a lot of work done last time and today we will try to get it completed so the little guys can move in!

Dress in warm, layered work clothes for a day outdoors: jeans + long johns if you wish, sturdy shoes or boots (it might be muddy/snowy out there), leather work gloves + liners if it's cold, toque/hat, warm upper layers.

The plan - we will get started right at 10:00, stop for a short lunch break about noon and then finish up by about 3pm.

More information about our last trips to CEI:
Saturday March 20, 2010 - Cochrane Ecological Institute
Sat, Nov 7 2009 - Cochrane Ecological Institute

"The Cochrane Ecological Institute - Cochrane Wildlife Reserve Society is devoted to the preservation of North America’s biodiversity through the conservation and breeding of endangered indigenous species, environmental impact evaluation, ecosystem restoration through the reintroduction of extirpated (extinct) flora and fauna, rescue and rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned wildlife, public education and field research, and the monitoring of habitat and species through the development of non intrusive survey methods.

"The Smeetons initiated the swift fox reintroduction program in Canada in 1972, six years before the species was declared extirpated *extinct* in Canada. A simple statement of fact: if the CEI had not initiated (1972) and implemented the swift fox reintroduction programme in Canada (1983 - 1997), the swift fox would still be classified as extirpated (extinct) in Canada (COSEWIC 1978) and not, as it is now, classified as Endangered in Canada (COSEWIC 1998).

"Many agencies, Federal, Provincial, municipal, take the credit for the Canadian programme, but the facts are unarguable: in 1972 the CEI established the first captive breeding colony of swift fox intended for reintroduction (we brought the founding pairs up from the USA as there were no swift fox left in Canada). In 1977 we established a partnership with the university of Calgary. In 1978 the species was officially classified as extirpated (extinct) in Canada. Through a partnership with the provincial (AB & SK) & Federal governments (you cannot reintroduce indigenous wildlife without permission from the provinces and federal governments, it is against the law to do so) the swift fox reintroduction programme started in 1983 and finished in 1997. The CEI provided 849 of the 1000 swift foxes that were reintroduced over that period.

"All animals held at the CEI are destined for reintroduction. They are not maintained for public exhibit, trade, or sale. Over the 38 years of its existence the CEI has also been an integral part of the Canadian Wildlife Service's Trumpeter swan (Cygnus bucinnator) and wood bison (B.b.athabascae) reintroduction programs, as well as playing a key role in the Canadian swift fox reintroduction program. The CEI is unique in that it holds the world's longest established (1972), largest (20 pairs), and only captive breeding colony of swift fox. These animals are bred solely for reintroduction as part of the CEI's ecosystem restoration program. Internationally, as species and habitat vanish, the concept of ecosystem restoration through the reintroduction of indigenous flora and fauna, is gaining greater and greater prominence. The preservation of habitat without those species, which made that habitat a viable whole, is a sterile exercise.

"The CEI is a family founded, charitable, not-for-profit organization devoted to breeding endangered species for reintroduction, wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release, educating the public, monitoring habitat and species, and developing non intrusive wildlife survey methods. The CEI was founded (1971) by Miles and Beryl Smeeton and is now run by their daughter, Clio Smeeton. Miles and Beryl Smeeton were internationally known sailors, mountaineers, and explorers.