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Friday, April 1, 2016 // ISSUE 70
EASTER EXPLORATION // JASPER’S ALPINE ENVIRONMENTS ARE STILL CLOAKED IN WINTER WHITE. CAROLINE ROY CAPTURED THIS SCENE WHILE EXPLORING THE ELUSIVE PASS AREA, PART OF JASPER’S SELDOM-TRAVELLED SIX-PASS ROUTE IN THE MALIGNE RANGE. // CAROLINE ROY
Shock collars to protect caribou Wolves will be fitted with shock collars and threatened woodland caribou in the Maligne Range of Jasper National Park will be protected by a 1,000 acre wide remote sensor “pen,” according to leaked Parks Canada documents.
The plans are being considered as part of the federal agency’s action plan for species at risk.
Signal Mountain pack with shock collars. The collars will emit an electronic pulse when they make contact with the sensor barrier, deterring wolves from entering areas where caribou frequent, scientists hope. “This may be the caribou’s last chance in Jasper National Park. The technology exists, we have the funding, it is time to take innovative steps to recovery,” the memo says.
Caribou populations in Jasper National Park have dropped “The time has come to consider more severe measures to to critical numbers. The last Parks Canada survey of the ensure the ongoing survivability of this iconic species,” Maligne Range found less than four animals. an internal memo reads. The proposed actions are known internally as the Caribou and Wolves Optimization Electronic Sensor program, or The most radical suggestions include establishing an Caribou WOES program. The program could be rolled out electronic sensor barrier around critical caribou habitat, as early as next April Fools! including the Bald Hills, and fitting wolves from the