Canada’s most endangered mammals got some new friends this week, the first wave of more than 60 marmots to be released on Mount Washington this summer.
The Marmot Recovery Foundation released 11 marmots on the mountain over the past few days, and during the next month, plan to release 50 more. The newcomers were born at the mountain’s recovery centre, the Toronto Zoo, and the Calgary Zoo as part of a conservation breeding program.
The Vancouver Island Marmot is the most endangered mammal in Canada. The unique Island population has recovered from fewer than 30 marmots in the wild in 2003, to around 300 this spring.
The next round of releases will be around the Nanaimo Lakes area, to strengthen the colonies nearby.
The Marmot Recovery Foundation is mostly funded by private donors, visit their website for more information or to make a donation.
