IN CANADA'S FORESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 40, 16 February 1929, Page 1 (Supplement)

IN CANADA'S FORESTS.

WILD LIFE CONSERVATION.

imxioics or acres set aside 1

(By A. J. STALLWORTHY, Minister

of Public Health.)

hmong „he important features of the Canadian Government's policy of conservation is the conservation of native wild life mm one of the natural resources. Federal and provincial legislation restrict tie activities of the hunter and provide for the protection of the wild animals •luring certain seasons of the year, but in ihe national parks, administered by the Federal Government, an excellent opportunity presents itself for according tie animal inhabitants absolute protection.

Each of the great scenic parks in the Rockies is a wild life sanctuary. In these regions, which are controlled and administered by the Government, measures have been adopted aiming to conserve the native wild life of Canada and at the same time stock adjacent hunting areas with species such as elk, deer, bear, sheep and goat, which have made Canada famous as a rendezvous of bi<* game hunters. These national parks, set aside for benefit, enjoyment and advantage of the people, cover a combined area of 9000 square miles, or approximately 6,000,000 acres. The immensity of these reservations may perhaps be better realised by stating that they represent a little more than one half the total area of Wales.

Within this great area wild life is given absolute protection, with the exception that war is waged on predatory animals in order that the safety of the remainder may be -made more secure. No traps may be set; no gun may be fired. All wild animals live as free from danger as they did before the advent of man.

The enforcement of absolute game protection over such large area* is not easy, but is achieved by the unceasing vigilance of an efficient warder service. The system of protection adopted in the big open parks of the Canadian Rockies consists of a scheme of interlacing trails extending from the park headquarters to the outlying boundaries. Game wardens' cabins are situated at strategic points and linked up by telephone. Each warden patrols a certain number of trails, covering them every few days, and as these trails are the only means of travel through the mountains, it is possible to keep track of ah parties travelling through the parks, and any infraction of the regulations with regard to hunting can be speedily detected. Scarce Species Increase, -

The results of this protective policy are everywhere evident. A few years ago certain species were threatened with extermination, but as a result of sanctuary conditions their numbers have multiplied until their perpetuation is now practically assured. As an example, seven or eight years ago the bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat, which were approaching extermination, had almost disappeared from Rocky Mountains National Park, sometimes called the Banff Park, after the famous mountain reaort in Alberta, and now they are to be found in ever-increasing number* within a mile of the town of Banff itself. It is no uncommon sight to see flocks of these animals along the highways, while other species, such as deer, have become so tame that they roam through the streets of the towns, nosing about the back doors for morsels of .food. In addition to the large open parks of the Rockies the Government also maintains great fenced reserves for the propagation of individual species which appear in immediate danger of extermination.

The rescue of the buffalo from extermination is one of the outstanding events in Canada's efforts toward animal protection. This characteristic North American species was all but extinct ten years ago. In fact, at that time, except for a few animals in the far north near the Arctic Circle, none existed in Canada, and but a few in the United States. A fortunate circumstance made the purchase of the majority of the remainder by the Canadian Government a possibility and the arrangement was quickly consummated. Buffalo National Park, at Wainwright, in Northern Alberta, with an area of 161.6 square miles, was established and about 750 animals were transported by special train from the scene of the purchase to their new home. Here, living under natural conditions and en what was probably their old feeding grounds in bygone years, the buffalo have multiplied over tenfold. At present there are more than 6000 animals within the confines of the park, and the annual natural increase is of such proportions as to warrant consideration of a plan for an annual slaughter of a number of surplus animals for commercial disposal.

t, Enclosed in its Native Habitat. The antelope is another animal for which much has been done. The conservation of this, one of Canada's most interesting native species, is made more imporant by the fact that the antelope is the only member of a special family of the ungulate, or hoofed, animals now found in Alberta and Saskatchewan and certain portions of the United States and nowhere else.

tChe rapid reduction in numbers of th* antelope has been a matter of grave concern to wild life conservationists of the North American continent for a number of years. Closed season and repeated attempts at breeding in captivity all proved futile, until the experiment was undertaken of enclosing a herd in some area in which they were already found to be feeding. Thus it was that Nemiskam National Park came into being. A fence, enclosing an area of eight and a-half square miles, was erected around a herd of 40 of these graceful, but excessively timid creatures, and the efforts toward propagation have been so encouraging there is every reason to believe that the perpetuation of this species of trustful, affectionate animal is now assured. Wawaskesy and Menissawok, two additional antelope reserves, have since been established, but are as yet unstocked.--

Among most of toe native Canadian mammal species an increase is now reported, in some cases so considerable as to cause an overflow into areas contiguous to the parks. They thrive and multiply under a kind of paternal government, which, so far as possible, utilises their natural products to help keep them alive, in the exercise of their natural faculties and habits, free of persecution and at liberty to range where ithey will,