Contact: Steve Sugars Page Content: The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, along with Mr. Fred Green, Canadian Pacific (CP) President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), today announced that successful teams were awarded research grants to further mitigate rail-related grizzly bear mortality in Banff and Yoho national parks. Projects will be supported by robust monitoring to determine effectiveness and begin in spring 2012 pending approval of animal care protocols. “Grizzly bears have long served as a Canadian icon, both within our boundaries and around the world,” said Minister Kent. “The University of Alberta and the Western Transportation Institute are proven experienced academic powerhouses respected for their research. We believe their teams will help us continue to protect and better understand this sensitive species.” Project teams are from the University of Alberta and the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University, led by Dr. Colleen Cassady St. Clair, in collaboration with Dr. Scott Nielsen and Dr. Tony Clevenger. Over the next four years, research initiatives championed by these teams, and supported by experts from Parks Canada and Canadian Pacific, will test the effectiveness of grain aversion, determine potential off-site habitat improvement and better identify the root-causes of grizzly bear mortality along the rail corridor. “Reaching this stage of the initiative is a major milestone,” said Fred Green. “These innovative projects will incorporate the best science available to address railway-related bear mortality through shared responsibility. Together, we aim to make a difference.” Parks Canada’s short-term actions benefiting from research grants under the Joint Action Plan include a bear GPS collaring and monitoring program, as well as sight-line and sound-line improvements through vegetation management. In addition, the initiative will establish an off-site test area to evaluate fence and closure alternatives to assess what infrastructure is needed to stop bears from accessing the railway corridor. All of these initiatives are part of the five-year Joint Action Plan announced by Parks Canada and Canadian Pacific in October 2010. Canadian Pacific (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) operates a North American transcontinental railroad providing freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Incorporating best-in-class technology and environmental practices, CP is re-defining itself as a modern 21st century transportation company built on safety, service reliability and operational efficiency. Visit cpr.ca and see how Canadian Pacific is Driving the Digital Railway. A world leader in managing protected areas, Parks Canada is committed to ensuring the protection and presentation of Canada’s historic and natural heritage. Through a network of 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites, and four national marine conservation areas, Parks Canada sets the stage and invites Canadians and people from around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery of our treasured natural and historic places. For additional information, please¤read this backgrounder. [TABLE] [TR] [TD="width: 300"]Information: Adam Sweet Press Secretary Office of the Minister of the Environment ¤819-997-1441 Media Relations Parks Canada 819-953-8371 www.twitter.com/parkscanada [/TD] [TD="width: 50%"]¤ Michelle Macullo Communications Advisor Mountain parks Parks Canada (403) 760-1368 Breanne Feigel Media Relations Canadian Pacific 403-589-6949 [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ¤ News Release Date: 2/24/2012 8:30 AM Location: Banff, Alberta News Type: Community Is Featured: Yes More...
