Vancouver Island Marmot / Marmota vancouverensis

This large Vancouver Island Marmot wanted to stay inside, so I wasn't able to get a good shot. The sunlight just reached his nose : ) However, I felt it was important to show it, as this is Canada's most endangered species. Seen on a special visit to the Calgary Zoo Ranch, also called the Devonian Wildlife Conservation Centre, on 25 September. This location, south of the city, spreads over 128 hectares of land and includes a large pond often used by migrating birds.

"When a species comes to the brink of extinction, it takes the dedicated and combined effort of many individuals and institutions to rescue it. In total, 65 Vancouver Island marmot pups were born this year at four partnering facilities across Canada including the Calgary Zoo, the Toronto Zoo, Mountain View Conservation & Breeding Centre in Langley, B.C. and the Tony Barrett Mt. Washington Recovery Centre on Vancouver Island.

The Vancouver Island marmot is listed as endangered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as well as a Priority 1 Species under the British Columbia Framework. Found only on Vancouver Island, their population remains too small and fragmented to recover without intervention and assistance from captive breeding programs.

Reported June 30th, 2009: "From a population low of less than 30 wild Vancouver Island Marmots in 2003, the population is expected to reach over 200 marmots in the wild by the end of
this summer."