Biologists have captured three endangered B.C. caribou to try and give them a new home with a more robust herd.
Provincial government biologists successfully moved three caribous from the South Selkirk and South Purcells herds to Revelstoke last week.
These two endangered caribou herds had dwindled to just six animals.
Of these six remaining caribous, two bulls and one male yearling in the South Purcells could not be captured safely.
The three that biologists were able to capture include a single remaining cow from the Selkirk herd, and a bull and a cow from the South Purcells herd.
These three animals were then moved to a holding facility near Revelstoke to protect them from predators.
The province says that the three captured animals are in good condition and the hope is that the caribou will be able to join the Columbia-North herd which has an estimated population of 147 animals.
Biologists will closely monitor to determine the right time to release them back into the wild.
The number of caribou in B.C. has been in decline over the past century, from approximately 40,000 animals to about 15,000 today.
The province is currently developing and implementing a Provincial Caribou Recovery Program Plan, which includes actions to protect the remaining caribou in the province, increasing habitat protection in select locations, habitat restoration, predator and prey management and enhanced research and monitoring.
However, this plan has faced some criticism and opposition for lack of consultation with northern regions including from Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer.
You can find more information on the caribou recovery program on the province's caribou webpage.
