Page 16 - Sphere No.12 (Aug 2004)

C O M M U N I T Y
BACK FROM THE BRINK
H usky is proud to have put its
name to the Husky Energy
Endangered Species Re-
introduction Research Program, which
was established in May 2003 to focus
efforts on saving Canada’s most imper-
illed wildlife.
Husky donated C$200,000 (approxi-
mately US$146,000) to fund research
at Calgary Zoo’s Centre for
Conservation Research (CCR) and the
gesture inspired an anonymous donor
to double the amount.
Dr Axel Moehrenschlager, the Head
of the CCR, studies swift foxes,
whooping cranes, northern leopard
frogs, and Vancouver Island mar-
mots. They represent,
respectively, some of
Canada’s most endangered
species. Apart from the marmots,
the native habitats of these crea-
tures are virtually on the
doorstep of the Calgary Zoo,
creating an ideal situation to
study the animals while
simultaneously working to
re-introduce them into
the wild.
The whoop-
ing crane is
a good example
of the zoo’s
capacity to
make a difference, but also of the
fragility of the work being done.
“There are 313 in the wild, which is
up from about 15 in 1941, but it has
taken an incredibly intensive effort in
terms of establishing captive breeding
populations and then reintroducing
them to their natural habitat,” says
Moehrenschlager. “But they are still
extremely fragile. If a fire breaks out at
a breeding site, or even if the water
level drops in a swampy area, whooping
crane numbers could begin to
drop again.”
Moehrenschlager and his team work
diligently to both understand the ani-
mals being reintroduced, and to ease
their transition from captivity
to wilderness.
Given some estimates that up to
50% of all species on earth could be
extinct by the end of this century, it
becomes clear just how important this
work is.
“Our philosophy is that we work on
environmental problems where science
can help to develop solutions, and then
apply them in the real world,”
Moehrenschlager explains.
To learn more about this pro-
gramme, you can check the website at:
http://www.calgaryzoo.org/AboutTheZoo/
C o n s e r v a t i o n R e s e a r c h / h u s k y _
energy_2.htm
FINANCIAL FACT FILE
• Husky Energy Endangered Species
Reintroduction Research Program
– C$200,000 (2003)
• Ducks Unlimited Canada
– C$320,000 (1999-2003)
• Caribou Range Restoration Project
– C$55,000 (2002-03)
• Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Project
– C$210,000 (1999-2003)
• Central Rockies Wolf Project
– C$24,000 (2001-03)
• Alberta Research Council Native
Plant Program
– C$30,000 (2000-02)
SPHERE 14