News Releases

THE VANCOUVER ISLAND MARMOT – TOPS 100 ANIMALS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1994 WITH PUPS BORN IN FOUR BREEDING FACILITIES

June 3, 2003 - Canada’s Most Endangered Animal – the Vancouver Island Marmot – Tops 100 Animals For First Time Since 1994 With Pups Born in Four Breeding Facilities For the first time since 1994 Canada has more than 100 of the country’s most endangered animal – the Vancouver Island marmot – after the birth of pups in all four facilities participating in captive breeding programs, according the Marmot Recovery Foundation. “It is too early to provide a final count but this is the first time we have had litters born in all of our facilities simultaneously”, said Viki Wilson Executive Director. “We have had litters born at the Toronto and Calgary zoos, Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Center in Langley and at our own facility at Mount Washington on Vancouver Island. We believe the resulting estimate of at least 14 pups will push the total population to over 100 animals for the first time since the massive decline in 1994. This is very exciting news for such an endangered animal.” Vancouver Island marmots remain one of the most threatened species in Canada with 25 animals remaining in the wild. The diminished surviving population made it necessary to launch an intensive captive breeding program to provide a “safety net” and rebuild the rapidly decreasing population. Since the first marmot was brought into captivity in 1997 only eight successful litters have been born (23 pups). Five of those litters (13 pups) were born last year after a slow start of only 3 litters (10 pups) in the first five years of the breeding program. “Already this year we’ve had seven litters born and we have our fingers crossed for one or two more. With the five litters born in captivity last year we are very hopeful we have turned the corner on reproduction”. The successful breeding is largely attributable to the relative aging (maturity) of the pairs along with the gradual refinement of animal management practices to increase their comfort during the breeding season. On average, Vancouver Island marmots don’t breed until they are 3 to 4 years of age and produce a litter every other year. In the wild the chances of a pup surviving its first year averages at 51%. If taken into captivity a wild-born pups survival rate jumps up to 92.6% so over half of the animals taken into captivity from the wild were first year pups to improve their survival. Since 1997 a total of 51 marmots have been captured from the wild, 27 of which have been first year pups. This is very important news since the Foundation is now facing the most difficult task of all in species recovery -- returning marmots to the wild. “We are presently facing both the most excruciating and the most exciting time. Now that we have reversed the downward trend of the population, it’s time to establish them back in their home - in the wild sub-alpine meadows of Vancouver Island.” -30- For further information please contact Chief Veterinarian, Malcolm McAdie at 250 714 5955 or Executive Director, Viki Wilson at 604 732 4260 or Bill Tieleman, West Star Communications at 604-844-7827 or cell 604-209-8775. Visit www.marmots.org for more information.

For more press releases...

More on Marmots

Recovery Strategy