British Columbia Wildlife Park

Infobox zoo
zoo_name=British Columbia Wildlife Park
logo=BCWildlifeParklogo.gif
logo_width=120px
date_opened=August 16, 1966
location=Kamloops, British Columbia, CAN
area=106 acres
num_species=65
members=CAZA
website=http://www.bczoo.org/default.htmThe British Columbia Wildlife Park is a zoo located in Kamloops, British Columbia.

History

The proposal

In 1965, the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce felt that Kamloops was a 'one-night stop' for tourists and that more attractions would be needed to convince visitors to stay longer, which would benefit the local economy. [ http://www.bczoo.org/ourhistory.htm ] On February 15, 1965, the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce were approached by animal enthusiast and eventual Wildlife Park founder John Moelaert, who proposed that an idea of a zoological park would be the perfect attraction to boost the local economy, because it would attract both visitors and residents. [ http://www.bczoo.org/ourhistory.htm ]

Public meeting

A month later a public meeting was organized by the Chamber of Commerce at the old Kamloops Library on March 17, 1965, to discuss the possibility of establishing a Wildlife Park. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, John, "Birth And Early Development of BC Wildlife Park," pg. 2 ] Other than John Moelaert, the public meeting were also attended by Kamloops City Council aldermen Tony Andrew, Gene Cavazzi and Malcolm Grant, as well as, North Kamloops Town Council alderman Albert McGowan, Head of the Kamloops branch of the B.C. Fish and Wildlife Len Smith, and architect Bud Aubrey (who would eventually provide drawings for the buildings and exhibits for the Wildlife Park). [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 2] At the meeting, John Moelaert explained to the public his idea to have a zoological attraction and that to achieve this goal he needs to:
# Set up a non-profit society;
#Acquire large property for spacious exhibits and;
#Develop the facility as a first class institution. John Moelaert recalled that at the meeting, "Most of the people were underwhelmed," and that, "Not a few were clearly hostile," but hostilities were present. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 2] Opponents of Moelaert's proposal, argued that Kamloops needed a public indoor swimming pool, better facilities for its senior citizens and that they don't feel comfortable with animals being locked up in cages. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 2] Moelaert would make it clear to the public that, "The well-being of animals was as important to me as it was to my critics," and went further to explain, "That a zoological park (The name wildlife park came into use later) could be a major recreational, educational and conservation project." [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 2] However, opposition to Moelaert's plan was still strong and support for his proposal was lukewarm as different questions were being asked on: How is he going to find a 100 acres? Why not he start small with a few acres? How is he going to pay for it? Moelaert would admit that he did not have all the answers and reminded the audience at the public meeting that his purpose for this meeting was to start the formation of a society so that they can gather information to answer those questions and to determine whether having a zoological park was even feasible. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 2] Moelaert then asked for donations for the proposed society and received a $10 bill from Ralph Thomas, General Manager of the Kamloops Pulp Mill and received an additional $5 from Reg Waugh. The public meeting would end after it appointed Jim Watson, Mrs S. Dow, lawyer Andrew Berna, Chamber of Commerce representative Fred Nesbitt, and John Moelaert as committee members to pursue the matter of setting up a society. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 2]

The formation of the zoological society

After public approval, the Greater Kamloops Zoological Society was formed on April 6, 1965, after its constitution and bylaws were prepared free of charge by local lawyers, Andrew Berna (committee member) and Patrick Dohm. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 3] After the establishment of an executive committee, the society was then officially incorporated and registered under the B.C. Societies Act, a few weeks later. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 3] Soon after their establishment, the Greater Kamloops Zoological Society started its membership drive. Membership to join the Greater Kamloops Zoological Society was only two dollars a year and included four free visits to the future zoo. The membership drive quickly reached over the 100-mark, which included reknowned BC citizens such as former Justice Minister Davie Fulton, Highways Minister Phil Gaglardi, Kamloops Mayor Peter Wing, Executive Director of the BC Wildlife Federation Howard Paish, and Vancouver Public Aquarium founder and director Dr. Murray Newman. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 3]

ite negotiations with Molson Breweries

After their successful membership drive, the Greater Kamloops Zoological Society's next task was to find a suitable site and soon entered into talks with Molson Breweries who owned an unused 1,000 acre hops farm about 10 miles east from what was then the boundary of Kamloops. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 3] Molson officials showed interest in the park proposal, but wanted several reports from the Society to show the Zoo's viability. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 3] The main concern of Molson Breweries was that the Zoo's project would become an eyesore for lack of funds and would reflect poorly on their company. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 3] With the Society's bank account having only more than a few hundred dollars, convincing Molson Breweries that the Society can carry out their development plans was a formidable task, since raising the required funds for the construction of buildings and exhibits would cost more. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 3] Molson's concerns of the Park's feasibility caused negotiations between Zoo Founder, John Moelaert and Molson's Public Relations Director, Alex Jupp to be on-going. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 3] Knowing his Society's financial situation and how it is effecting the on-going negotiations with Molson Breweries to donate land, Moelaert managed to persuade local architects (see above - The Public Meeting), surveyors, engineers, contractors, carpenters, electricians, bricklayers, etc. to donate their services or building materials if Molson's land were to be transferred to the Society. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 3] After being successful to convince local businesses to donate their services, Molson Breweries became convinced of the Park's viability and donated 106 acres of land to the Greater Kamloops Zoological Society on February 11, 1966, after almost a year of negotiations. [ http://www.bczoo.org/docs/more_history.pdf Moelaert, pg. 3]

Construction and opening of the park

Four months after receiving the land transfer from Molson and receiving donated materials and services (labour, concrete, bulldozer, flat deck, lumber, doors, toilet stalls, water mains, etc.), the Greater Kamloops Zoological Society started planning and designing their new site for construction. Majority of the donated materials and services, mostly came from Kamloops, however, much of the donated materials also came from the Lower Mainland and as far away in Peterborough, Ontario. With the donated materials and services available, founder John Moelaert would oversee the construction and became the project's first manager on June 1, 1966. On that same day, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Staff Sgt. Gordon Simons succeeded John Moelaert as President of the Society, since Moelaert was now in charge of managing construction. The first item on Moelaert's development was to drill for an abundant supply of excellent water so that the Zoo can have its own independent water supply. On their first drilling attempt, Moelaert found what he was looking for - an abundant water supply, and soon after that, development and construction began. After Moelaert discovered his independent water supply, BC Hydro crews started to provide electricity to the Zoo, by constructing underground services in order to avoid unsightly overhead lines. Soon after BC Tel started installing the phone lines and roads were soon built. Construction of the Zoo would only take two months to complete, and it was officially opened to the public on August 16, 1966. The first exhibits to be shown to the public was a two-acre enclosure that featured two moose, Demitrius and his female companion, Gerda, and other enclosures that included the White-Tailed Deer, the Fallow Deer, and the Canada Geese. After operating its business under the Kamloops Zoo, the Society would change its name to The Wildlife Park Society of B.C. and rename the site as B.C. Wildlife Park on November 1, 1966, in order to recognize the support that they have received from both the Thompson-Okanagan region and the Lower Mainland. In its first 80 days of operation, the Park drew in 7,000 people before it was closed to the public for the winter season.

Conservation and education projects

Community stewardship

The BC Wildlife Park have a policy to be committed to promoting a sustainable and responsible environmental practices. [http://www.bczoo.org/communitystewardship.htm] Through this policy, all new construction at or in association with the Park will follow strict environmental standards from the types of materials being used; to the way they heat and light their facilities and how they can reuse recyclable material whenever they can. [http://www.bczoo.org/communitystewardship.htm]

In the near future, the BC Wildlife Park would like to showcase and set an example for others through a wide variety of sustainable projects that will include alternate energy practices, such as solar and wind power, waste water treatment in a natural marsh, and recycling projects that will include composting techniques. [http://www.bczoo.org/communitystewardship.htm]

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

The Kamloops Wildlife Park Society operates the only licensed Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in the Kamloops area. [ http://www.bczoo.org/wildliferehabilitation.htm] The Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre staff and volunteers work closely with the Ministry of Environment as well as community partners to provide rehabilitation services for injured, ill, or orphaned mammals, birds of prey, amphibians, reptiles and endangered species until they can be returned to their natural habitats. [ http://www.bczoo.org/wildliferehabilitation.htm]

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre also has a partnership with Thompson Rivers University's - Animal Health Technology Program (AHT) to teach and prepare students to become Animal Health Technicians. [ http://www.bczoo.org/wildliferehabilitation.htm] Students that are taking this program will learn many aspects of their course requirements while providing a very high level of veterinary care and learning their course requirements while participating in animal health and wildlife rehabilitation at the B.C. Wildlife Park.

In 2006, the Rehabilitation Centre rescued and rehabilitated 139 animals and in 2007, the Park took in five rescued rattlesnakes and rehabilitated them by the fall season when the snakes were eventually released to a den site. One of the snakes also gave birth at the Park and the surviving young were also released into the wild. In 2008, the Rehabilitation Centre took in 11 deer fawn from Kamloops and other surrounding communities such as Prince George and Kelowna. [ http://www.bczoo.org/wildliferehabilitation.htm] UTwo of the fawn did not survive after they were rescued, while one survivor will not be released since it has lost its fear of man. However, eight of the surviving deer fawn were released into the wild. [ http://www.bczoo.org/wildliferehabilitation.htm]

Burrowing Owl Captive Breeding Program

Since 1991, B.C. Wildlife Park has released well over 500 juvenile Burrowing Owls back into their BC grassland habitat and is an active member of the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of B.C. [http://www.bczoo.org/conservationprojects.htm] As of now, B.C. Wildlife Park has the largest Burrowing Owl Breeding Facility in North America. [ http://www.bczoo.org]

Prior to 1980, British Columbia's Burrowing Owl population had almost been extirpated from the grassland areas of the Thompson-Okanagan region. [http://www.bczoo.org/conservationprojects.htm] To prevent the species from going extinct in the B.C. grasslands, the B.C. Wildlife Park participated in the BC Burrowing Owl Recovery Program in 1990, with the construction of its first breeding facility. [http://www.bczoo.org/conservationprojects.htm]

The main goal of the Breeding Program is to achieve a self supporting Burrowing Owl population in BC's grasslands through population increase, habitat improvement, and public education. [http://www.bczoo.org/conservationprojects.htm] To increase the population, about 100 owls are born and raised within the breeding facility. After one year, those same owls would then be released into the grasslands of the Thompson-Okanagan area after staff carefully select a proper release site. [http://www.bczoo.org/conservationprojects.htm] In terms, of habitat and education, the Wildlife Park's Education Department undertakes extensive interpretive programs and field trips that involve schools and other community groups to promote local awareness about the Burrowing Owls' plight. In addition, the Park's Burrowing Owl ambassador, is very well known in the local community, and will promote the fundamental message that people of all ages can do something to preserve and protect endangered grassland species. [http://www.bczoo.org/conservationprojects.htm] Furthermore, the breeding program is a partnership that includes Wildlife Park staff, volunteers, local landowners, and the BC Ministry of Education, which also helps in delivering its message and objectives. [http://www.bczoo.org/conservationprojects.htm]

After twelve years with the program, BC Wildlife Park constructed a new Burrowing Owl Recovery Centre within its grounds in 2002. [http://www.bczoo.org/conservationprojects.htm] The new facility is capable of producing over 100 young owls for release each year. The design of the Burrowing Owl Recovery Centre was developed by B.C. Wildlife Park staff and is currently being copied by other North American facilities due to its success as a leader in Burrowing Owl captive breeding for release according to the National Burrowing Owl Team. [http://www.bczoo.org/conservationprojects.htm] In addition, B.C. Wildlife Park also received an award of excellence for its captive breeding program from the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2004. [http://www.bczoo.org/conservationprojects.htm]

References

External links

* [http://www.bczoo.org/default.htm/ British Columbia Wildlife Park]