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For Immediate Release
Defenders Applauds Algonquin Wolf Proposal
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Defenders of Wildlife today applauded the proposal by Ontario Minister of Natural Resources John Snobelen calling for a 30-month moratorium on hunting and trapping wolves in the 39 townships surrounding Algonquin Park, as well as in the Park itself.
"Algonquin Park is a special place, the oldest park in Ontario, and the wolf population there is a unique and important part of the region’s ecosystem," said Kevin Scott, Defenders director of Canadian programs. "The Ontario government recognizes that killing wolves outside the Park places the whole population in jeopardy, and they are committed to doing something about it."
The proposal is based on recommendations by the Algonquin Wolf Advisory Group, a committee of scientists and key stakeholders such as hunters, environmentalists and community leaders, established by Snobelen in 1998. The Advisory Group had concluded that Algonquin’s wolf population has been decreasing steadily over the past four decades, with further declines expected unless mortality is slowed.
Though the majority of deaths are human-caused, the committee stopped short of recommending a ban on hunting and trapping. Snobelen, in his proposal, strengthened the committees recommendations by calling for a complete moratorium on these activities in and around the Park.
"The Ontario government has taken a tremendous step in the protection of Canada's wolves, " said Scott. "As the government continues to implement the recommendations of the committee and the wolf population begins to stabilize there will be two shining lights in wolf recovery in North America - Yellowstone and Algonquin."
According to Nina Fascione, director of carnivore conservation for Defenders of Wildlife, "Recent genetics studies have demonstrated that the wolves in Algonquin Park may be the most pure form of the eastern Canadian wolf. With only approximately 150 wolves left in the Park, this moratorium is crucial for assuring the long-term survival and preservation of this important gene pool."
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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of North America’s most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat, and played a leading role in efforts to reintroduce wolves into Yellowstone National Park. With more than 480,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on environmental issues. For timely updates on environmental issues, visit www.defenders.org and subscribe to DENLines, a free e-mail alert newsletter. Check back with www.defenders.org for an upcoming status report on Canadian wolves.
