grouse, otters, and penguins

Calgary Zoo

GREATER SAGE-GROUSE
2014. "Minister Aglukkaq has announced a $2.1 million contribution for the Calgary Zoo’s new captive breeding and rearing program for the Greater Sage-Grouse."
2014. "Of 13 hatched birds, only two survived to the age of seven months."
2016. "Controversial move comes despite calls from American legislators to keep avians on U.S. side of border... The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 3-1 to relocate 40 greater sage grouse hens this year across the border to Alberta, where an estimated 100 to 120 of the birds are left.
2016. A new breeding facility. "Fewer than 400 of the endangered birds estimated to exist in Canada today"

CRITICAL HABITAT: "Sage grouse now occupy only about 7% of their historical range in Canada... A multi-species action plan involving Greater Sage-Grouse in Saskatchewan is currently under way, and an action plan specific to Alberta will be developed in the future." (link)

Some time in the future.

LOGAN THE OTTER DROWNED
Zookeepers gave him pants.

HUMBOLDT PENGUINS DROWNED
Seven penguins found dead.

And Kakinga died at age 37.
The median life expectancy of gorilla in captivity is 31.1 years old.

bronco goes to dc, little black lies & the castle

Well, Gary Mar came back from the Alberta Embassy in Washington for the provincial Progressive Conservative (PC) leadership race, which he lost, so now he's being shipped to China Hong Kong. Asia. The U.S. vacancy will be filled, as was Mar's position, i.e. without due process, by former Calgary mayor Dave 'Bronco' Bronconnier for about nine months. Hopefully, Ambadassador Gordon Campbell in the UK, Bronco in Washington and Mar in Asia can birth their many bouncing baby pipelines, mines, logging inroads.

Lettuce earnestly hope that no mention will be made by these 3distinguished gentlemens of an Alberta grizzly bear expert, who lives in self-imposed exile (Missoula, Montana). Anyway... a new book by Jeff Gailus is upcoming. 'Little Black Lies: The War on Truth in the Battle for the Tar Sands' will be published by Rocky Mountain Books in Fall 2012.

Of the Castle Special Management Area, he says:

It was ostensibly “protected” as part of the Alberta government’s Special Places Program in 1998, but unlike other candidate parks, it wasn’t protected by legislation; it was simply managed as one under government policy, which has been ineffective to say the least. Logging and energy development continue to this day.

In 'Legislation, not policy, foundation of environmental protection,' Fast Forward Weekly, Nov 3, 2011.

A provincial park is still waiting: Andy Russell - I'tai sah kòp Wildland Park was proposed in 2005 for the Castle and/or Castle-Crown Wilderness. See the media release, notes and letter.