The home of the Cochrane Ecological Institute is 160 acres of isolated montane habitat in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Calgary, Alberta. Established in 1964, it is devoted to preserving biodiversity through the conservation and breeding of endangered indigenous species for reintroduction.
Over the years, the institute has rescued, rehabilitated and released all manner of native animals from bears to reptiles. They provide field research, public education and have developed innovative release strategies and non-intrusive survey methods. Most importantly, they are experienced advocates for the threatened fauna and flora of western Canada.
In Alberta, orphaned bear cubs must be euthanized when the mother is lost to predation, road accident or hunting. In a progressive move by the Alberta government, the Cochrane Ecological Institute was recently granted permission to rescue two orphaned Black bear cubs. This is a step in the right direction but Black bears are not a threatened species in Canada, yet can now be legally rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
On the other hand, Grizzly bears, are a species at risk of extinction in Canada, however, their orphaned cubs must still be euthanized. The Cochrane Ecological Institute is working hard to change that rule.
WildLife Canada Society will fund this work by providing the necessary facilities to rehab and re-wild the orphaned offspring of Canada’s iconic Grizzly bears. Click to learn more about the supporters of this important issue or to view details about the enclosure.
