Wildlife conservationists urge Alberta to abandon proposed caribou restoration plan

Conservation groups across the country are calling into question both the ethics and the effectiveness of a proposal to recover woodland caribou in Alberta.

The draft plan includes an experiment to fence a 100-square-kilometre area where caribou wouldbe able to breed,and any predators that pose a threat to the enclosed herd would be killed.

• Read the full Little Smoky and A La Peche Caribou Range Planhere

The trial wouldstudy whether it is possible to restore caribou numbers in the absence of specificfactors that either are responsible for caribou mortalityor that compete with caribou for resources.

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PaulPaquet,senior scientist with theRaincoastConservation Fund,said destroyingwolves, deer, elk and moose, in order to provide an unknown benefit to caribou would bean unethical course of action.

"As a scientific experiment, it's of real interest," saidPaquet.

"But science, even the best science, doesn't give us permission to do whatever we want," he toldCBC'sAlberta@Noon.

"This is a case of just because we can do it, doesn't mean we should."

Focus should be habitat, not predators, say groups

Moreover, Paquetis "doubtful" a wolf cull would do much for the caribou by itself.

Hebelieves the government's priority should behabitat restoration and protection from industrial and recreational activities that are destroying the caribou'snatural landscape.

"The recovery plan proposes a bloodbath so that industry can continue at all costs," said Liz White, director of the Animal Alliance of Canada, in a release.

"Outside of these caribou farms, industry will continue to fragment what little is left of caribou habitat into land that supports the very animals targeted for killing."

Hannah Barron, director of wildlife conservation campaigns at Earthroots, said more than 1,000 wolves have been killed in an attempt to protect theLittle Smoky Caribou herd over the past decade, with "no significant increase in caribou numbers."

More than adozen environmental groups,independentscientists,and animal welfare organizations are now encouraging the public tourgethe Alberta government to abandon its plan before the Aug.5 deadline.

With files from Alberta@Noon