News Archive 2006
December 2006 - Six Addax Return to Africa
In mid December, Mountain View was a busy place as we prepared to send six of our addax herd back to Africa, to the Guembeul National Park near Dakar, Senegal. Latest reports are that they are healthy and doing well. We have been working with the Ministry of National Parks in Senegal for many years now and we hope to return more Addax again in December of 2007. For more details on the North African program visit our website at www.mtnviewconservation.org/programs.
November 2006 - Spotted Frog Recovery Program Update
We are happy to announce that the Spotted Frog Project of 2006 was a great success and that in 2007 we expect ten times the number of embryos at the centre.
Project leader, Andrea Gielens, would like to thank all the volunteers who helped out with the release. In 2007, she expects to see our frog project grow by leaps and bounds. In 2006 we had approximately 350 frogs and next year we will have the capacity to handle 3500. This, of course, means we can expect a lot more work in water changing, husbandry practices and data collection which translates into many more opportunities for volunteers to get involved at every stage of the project. Keep a look out for more information and sign up sheets in the Visitor Centre or talk to Andrea if there is a specific day you would like to help out or an activity you want to help with. Tadpoles are due at the end of March or start of April.
November 2006 - Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Program Update
Nineteen Vancouver Island Marmots are currently hidden away for the winter here at Mountain View. In the wild, the animals often hibernate for up to eight months but in our facilities hibernation lasts between five and six months. Under the watchful eye of keeper Marguerite Sans, the marmots emerge mid-March and we hope to see some pups between May and June. The rare marmots are considered to be the most endangered mammal in Canada.
We house the marmots in pens designed to promote natural behaviour, such as burrowing and hibernating, to ensure a smooth transition when they are released on Vancouver Island in the mountains near Nanaimo and on Mount Washington.
It is our hope that through careful breeding programs we can ensure the survival of the marmots. If you are interested in helping recover this local species please consider a donation through our website www.mtnviewconservation.org