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Protecting Canada's Wildlife & Biodiversity
Photo of endangered spirit (Kermode) bear taken by Colleen Gara.
Wildlife photographers Colleen Gara and Peter Mather share their insights on the most pressing issues impacting Canadian wildlife and how their passion for photography began.
Colleen Gara See Colleen's photography on Instagram @colleengaraphoto and at colleengara photography.com.
In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues affecting Canada’s wildlife and biodiversity? CG: Habitat preservation and interconnectedness are what I see as the most pressing issues affecting Canada’s wildlife and biodiversity. As our human footprint continues to expand, wilderness shrinks. Whether from commercial development, resource extraction, or the expansion of roadways, the destruction and fragmentation of habitat threatens wildlife survival and biodiversity as a whole. Functioning and complete ecosystems are absolutely necessary to keep wildlife populations protected and healthy.
PM: The most pressing issues facing Canada’s wildlife and biodiversity are without doubt habitat destruction and climate change. Our climate is changing too quickly for most wildlife to adapt. In the Yukon we see this with salmon, as the rivers are quickly heating to temperatures not conducive to spawning. The salmon are slowly moving to Arctic rivers, but won't be able to adapt quickly enough, and entire ecosystems depend on the salmon.
Why should Canadians care about protecting the country’s wildlife populations? CG: We're so privileged as Canadians to live in a country with incredible and diverse wildlife, including polar bears, grey wolves, spirit (Kermode) bears, snowy owls, and Canada lynx. Protecting and coexisting with wildlife is important not only because of the animals’ intrinsic value, but also because wildlife and their habitats are critical for our own health. We're part of the natural world and if it suffers, so will we. The wilderness, as well as the natural spaces even in our own backyards, are crucial for our own mental and physical well-being. PM: Wildlife populations are a reflection of our environment. If we're causing such catastrophic changes that wildlife are disappearing, it's a reflection of our environment, and if we're making our environment untenable for wildlife, then we're on the way to endangering ourselves. Also, the First Nations people who have called Canada home for thousands of years still depend on wildlife for their cultural and physical sustenance, and we must respect that.
Peter Mather See Peter's photography on Instagram @matherpeter and at petermather.com.
Want to Help Protect Endangered Species? Start at Home The Greater Vancouver Zoo’s conservation programs, including its award-winning Oregon Spotted Frog Recovery Program, are helping to protect local endangered species. Tania Amardeil
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Menita Prasad Director of Animal Care & Deputy General Manager, Greater Vancouver Zoo
hen it comes to w ild life conservation and endangered species, people’s minds often go to large, well-known animals: rhinos, elephants, tigers, and chimpanzees. But what about the endangered animals closer to home, right here in Canada? “We quite often find that people in our local communities aren’t even aware of the different species that are in their own backyards,” says Menita Prasad, Director of Animal Care and Deputy General Manager at the Greater Vancouver Zoo. “And if you’re not aware of the species around you, how are you going to know whether they’re in trouble and what you can do to help them?” Despite a general lack of awareness of the
biodiversity and conservation issues all around us, the animals in our own backyards do need our attention and our help. Many Canadians would be shocked to find out that 66 percent of all species in Canada are on the decline.
Supporting conservation efforts The Greater Vancouver Zoo is on a mission to change this, and conservation work is part of its official mandate. Its conservation work also focuses on local endangered species. “All of the ex-situ conservation programs we’re currently involved in deal with local native endangered species, as that’s where we feel we can make the strongest impact,” explains Prasad. The zoo’s Oregon Spotted Frog Recovery Program, in particular, is making a big impact. Last year, it was awarded the Colonel G.D. Dailley Award from Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums. Launched in 1999,
when Oregon spotted frogs showed up on the list of endangered animals, the program has involved many different conservation actions, including population monitoring, habitat restoration, and captive breeding for release. The Greater Vancouver Zoo also works toward recovering populations of western painted turtles, Taylor’s Checkerspot butterflies, and Salish suckers.
The Oregon spotted frog
To learn more, visit gvzoo.com.
This article was sponsored by the Greater Vancouver Zoo.
Senior Strategic Account Manager: Anna Sibiga Strategic Account Director: Jessica Golyatov Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Content & Production Manager: Raymond Fan Designer: Kylie Armishaw Web & Content Editor: Karthik Talwar All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The National Post or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GREATER VANCOUVER ZOO
When did you first begin photographing wildlife? Colleen Gara: I've always had a deep connection to nature and wildlife and grew up camping, hiking, and constantly exploring the outdoors. Both of my parents were interested in photography and I used a little point-and-shoot camera when I was younger. About eight years ago, after attending a local seminar on wildlife photography, I decided to combine my passion for wilderness and animals with photography and began my journey as a wildlife photographer. Peter Mather: I began wildlife photography in 2000, when I lived in the remote Gwich’in First Nation village of Old Crow, Yukon, where I worked as a secondary school teacher. I mostly photograph conservation-related stories featuring animals like Arctic fox, wolverines, caribou, and salmon. In 2016, I left my job as a math teacher to pursue in-depth wildlife photography stories.