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Caribou herds in Jasper National Park are at risk
Caribou have roamed the peaks and valleys of what is now Jasper National Park for millennia. They rely on the vast and undisturbed habitat found in the mountains and forests of the Rocky Mountains. Records show that there were several herds with hundreds of animals throughout most of the 1900s. But over the last fifty years, those numbers have become drastically lower. The Banff and Maligne herds have disappeared. Today, the Tonquin herd has an estimated 55 animals and the Brazeau herd has less than 15. With very few reproductive females in the park, the survival of these small caribou herds is precarious.
Without intervention, the Tonquin and Brazeau herds will eventually disappear from Jasper National Park
Parks Canada envisions a future with caribou herds that can thrive on their own
Parks Canada is proposing a conservation breeding strategy to rebuild small caribou herds in Jasper National Park. The park provides a unique, protected space where southern mountain caribou herds may have the best chance of recovery and long-term survival. With continued action by Parks Canada to minimize threats to caribou, the existing ecological conditions in the park can support larger caribou populations. By rebuilding the dwindling herds of caribou in Jasper National Park, we can ensure the continued existence of some of the world’s southernmost caribou.
A conservation breeding program is the best option to rebuild small caribou herds in Jasper National Park
Southern mountain caribou is one of six species identified by the Government of Canada as a priority for conservation action. This priority status is based on their ecological, social, and cultural value to Canadians, and because their recovery can significantly support other species at risk and overall biodiversity within the ecosystems they inhabit.
Please click on each of the tabs below (Ideas, Forum, Stories, Questions) to more learn about the proposed conservation breeding program. The full proposal is also available online and can be downloaded.
Then join the discussion. Let us know your ideas or any comments you have on each of the different elements of the proposal in the Forum.
Caribou herds in Jasper National Park are at risk
Caribou have roamed the peaks and valleys of what is now Jasper National Park for millennia. They rely on the vast and undisturbed habitat found in the mountains and forests of the Rocky Mountains. Records show that there were several herds with hundreds of animals throughout most of the 1900s. But over the last fifty years, those numbers have become drastically lower. The Banff and Maligne herds have disappeared. Today, the Tonquin herd has an estimated 55 animals and the Brazeau herd has less than 15. With very few reproductive females in the park, the survival of these small caribou herds is precarious.
Without intervention, the Tonquin and Brazeau herds will eventually disappear from Jasper National Park
Parks Canada envisions a future with caribou herds that can thrive on their own
Parks Canada is proposing a conservation breeding strategy to rebuild small caribou herds in Jasper National Park. The park provides a unique, protected space where southern mountain caribou herds may have the best chance of recovery and long-term survival. With continued action by Parks Canada to minimize threats to caribou, the existing ecological conditions in the park can support larger caribou populations. By rebuilding the dwindling herds of caribou in Jasper National Park, we can ensure the continued existence of some of the world’s southernmost caribou.
A conservation breeding program is the best option to rebuild small caribou herds in Jasper National Park
Southern mountain caribou is one of six species identified by the Government of Canada as a priority for conservation action. This priority status is based on their ecological, social, and cultural value to Canadians, and because their recovery can significantly support other species at risk and overall biodiversity within the ecosystems they inhabit.
Please click on each of the tabs below (Ideas, Forum, Stories, Questions) to more learn about the proposed conservation breeding program. The full proposal is also available online and can be downloaded.
Then join the discussion. Let us know your ideas or any comments you have on each of the different elements of the proposal in the Forum.
Planning sketch of the proposed conservation breeding facility.To establish a conservation breeding program, Parks Canada will need to build a breeding centre (with a large fenced area and a variety of pens and buildings) where a captive herd can live and raise young caribou until they are ready for release into the wild. Parks Canada proposes locating the facility along the Geraldine Fire Road, 30 kilometres south of the Jasper townsite. This site is considered the preferred location because:
it is relatively quiet, with low human disturbance
close to typical caribou habitat
away from large concentrations of other wild ungulates and entirely separate from domestic livestock that may carry contagious diseases
relatively close to source sites for wild caribou and release of captive-raised caribou
relatively close to utilities and services required to run the facility
accessible to Parks Canada staff and specialists from the Jasper townsite
To form a captive breeding herd, Parks Canada proposes capturing a small number of wild caribou from regional “source” herds and bringing them to live in a conservation breeding facility in Jasper. Parks Canada is considering rescuing the remaining animals from the Brazeau, capturing some animals from the Tonquin, and some from other regional herds in Alberta or British Columbia. Capture would take place over several years and ensure that the wild herds are not negatively affected.
The goal is to obtain caribou from source herds with the closest genetic and behavioural match to the wild herds where the animals will be released. Research is ongoing to inform this. Risks associated with the capture, handling, and transport would be mitigated by employing established best practices from other caribou capture, rearing, and translocation programs.
Additional research and conversations with regional partners, particularly the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, are needed before any final decisions are made.
Do you have any comments or concerns about removing caribou from southern mountain caribou herds in Alberta and British Columbia? For example, the Brazeau, Tonquin, À la Pêche, or Columbia North caribou herds.
Do you have any comments or concerns about the process of capturing and moving wild caribou into captivity?
Do you have recommendations for avoiding or mitigating these concerns?
To produce young caribou that can be added to the wild population, Parks Canada proposes establishing a healthy breeding herd of caribou in a conservation breeding facility in Jasper. Intensive management of the breeding herd will be required. Animals in the facility will require feeding, water, and care for their health and wellbeing. The young caribou that will be released each year will not be around humans as much – the goal is to keep them as wild as possible.
Conservation Breeding Cycle
Planning sketch for the proposed conservation breeding facility
To increase the population size of the Tonquin herd to be self-sustaining, Parks Canada proposes releasing young caribou born in the facility into the Tonquin herd first. Young caribou (10-14 months old) would be transported from the facility to a temporary pen. Other wild caribou could be temporarily relocated to the release pen to help the animals bond and adapt to each other and the environment. All animals in the release pen would be set free into the wild after two to three weeks.
To help Parks Canada understand and eliminate, reduce, or control potentially adverse effects this program could have on people or key ecological, cultural, and social values, the proposal has undergone a Detailed Impact Assessment (DIA). Parks Canada expects that it is unlikely for significant adverse impacts to occur as long as mitigations are implemented (pending feedback received through consultation).
The scope of the Detailed Impact Assessment is available on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry website. The draft Detailed Impact Assessment is available by request. Email caribou@pc.gc.ca to request a copy.
Do you have any comments or concerns about the draft Detailed Impact Assessment?
Caribou Conservation Breeding Proposal has finished this stage
Over the last 16 years, Parks Canada has researched the causes of decline of caribou herds in Jasper National Park, identified and mitigated threats to caribou in the park, and researched and assessed the feasibility of using conservation breeding to support caribou recovery in the park. Parks Canada also engaged in early dialogue with Indigenous partners, other experts, and key stakeholders to discuss a conservation breeding strategy.
Scientific review (January 2021)
Caribou Conservation Breeding Proposal has finished this stage
Parks Canada organized a comprehensive, independent review of the proposed approach by a group of specialists in caribou ecology and conservation breeding. The results of this review found scientific support for a conservation breeding and augmentation strategy in Jasper National Park.
Planning stage (2021-2022)
Caribou Conservation Breeding Proposal has finished this stage
In August 2021, the Government of Canada committed funding for caribou conservation initiatives in the park. As a result of this funding, Parks Canada moved forward with developing a detailed design for a facility and beginning a detailed impact assessment process for a potential conservation breeding program.
DIA and consultations (2022)
Caribou Conservation Breeding Proposal is currently at this stage
Currently, Parks Canada is consulting with Indigenous partners, stakeholders and the public on the proposed conservation breeding program. The scope for the Detailed Impact Assessment was posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry for public comment. A draft Detailed Impact Assessment has been developed and is available for review and comment by Indigenous partners, stakeholders and the public. Discussions with provincial government partners and Indigenous partners to identify potential source herds to build the breeding herd are on-going.
Design and construction (2022-2024)
this is an upcoming stage for Caribou Conservation Breeding Proposal
Parks Canada continues to work on the design of the proposed breeding facility. If a decision is reached to proceed with this project, construction on the breeding facility could being as early as 2023.
First capture of wild caribou to bring into captivity (2025)
this is an upcoming stage for Caribou Conservation Breeding Proposal
If a decision is reached to proceed with the project, and once potential source herds are agreed upon, Parks Canada would capture wild caribou and move them into captivity in the conservation breeding facility. This first capture could occur as early as January or February 2025 and would be followed by additional captures over several years.
First release of captive-bred caribou into the Tonquin herd (2026)
this is an upcoming stage for Caribou Conservation Breeding Proposal
If the project proceeds as anticipated, the first release of captive-bred caribou could be as early as Spring 2026. It is proposed that male yearlings be released in March at the age of ~10 months and female yearlings be released in September at the age of ~15 months.
Tonquin herd reaches 200 animals (2031+)
this is an upcoming stage for Caribou Conservation Breeding Proposal
Population modelling has shown that the Tonquin herd could grow to 200 animals within 5 to 10 years of releasing the first captive caribou.
Brazeau and Maligne caribou herds reach 300-400 animals (2040+)
this is an upcoming stage for Caribou Conservation Breeding Proposal
If the objectives with the Tonquin herds are achieved, Parks Canada would consider potentially reintroducing captive-bred caribou into the Brazeau and Maligne caribou ranges where herds have or will have disappeared.
End of conservation breeding program (TBD)
this is an upcoming stage for Caribou Conservation Breeding Proposal
The program is intended to be long-term but not permanent; however, it is too early to determine exactly when that endpoint will be. The program will be assessed periodically against key milestones to determine an end date.