COCHRANE ECOLOGICAL INSTITUTE COCHRANE WILDLIFE RESERVE SOCIETY
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Mission Statement
The work of the CEI is essential,because global wildlife populations have fallen by 58% since 1970. For 50 years CEI has successfully undertaken ecosystem restoration through the reintroduction of extirpated indigenous species, curricula related experiential Public Education, provided University Interns with supervised experience and Field Station facilities, developed and proven innovative methods of non-intrusive wildlife monitoring and surveying. The Cochrane Ecological Institute, CEI, is unique because it is physically the largest Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility in Western Canada and therefore has the open prairie and woodland space enabling us to rear orphaned large carnivore kittens, ungulates, and bear cubs under conditions similar to the wild.University students and Interns have a unique opportunity to study these animals under natural conditions.School children learn in outdoor facilities. New non-intrusive methods of wildlife survey are developed and proven and initiated.
About This Cause
The Organization obtained the land in 1967 and Charitable status as the Cochrane Ecological Institute,CEI, in 1991. The Board is made up of 5 individuals: Clio Smeeton, Ken Weagle, Sonamara Vogt, Catriona Matheson and Dr. Roger Bate. The CEI has three full-time Staff, 2 part time staff and a regular volunteer cadre (members) varying from 100 to 300 individuals. The CEI's educational programme for schools, first established in 1971, is now managed by Lisa Dahlsiede. The CEI operates under license from the MD of Rocky View, Alberta, and annually renewed Permits from the Government of Alberta, and from the Federal Government of Canada. A Social Initiative, the non-profit Cochrane Research Institute, covers the day to day costs of the CEI. The CEI publishes a Newsletter, LIBERTY, and Annual Report, as well as Reports to Funders on the specific programmes they funded. Beyond those day to day costs, the Cochrane Ecological Institute, CEI, Charity appeals for funds only for specific programmes: for example, in 2017, one specific appeal is for the construction of an Aviary purpose-designed to house over the winter flocks of Bohemian and Cedar waxings that have been injured during migration and to produce and publish a book on these two species. Waxwings of both species spend their lives in their flocks so successful rehabilitation and release is dependent upon the maintenance of the flock social structure. Once built this will be a first in Canada. Another specific programme is the Annual series of Symposia, Wilderness Wildlife and Human Interaction. The Themes for these Symposia change annually, the Speakers are the best we can find in their fields and are invited to Speak. The Symposia are not Fundraisers: the goal is to keep ticket prices as low as possible to encourage the attendance of the widest possible spectrum of people from all walks of life and to achieve the CEI's vision. Our vision is to create an organization where Ideas Become Reality, and where, unlimited by, but not disregarding history, we develop, initiate and evaluate, beneficial ways to DO SOMETHING MORE and DIFFERENT. Where we create new ways so people from all walks of life can collaboratively work together, exchange ideas, to achieve goals that are mutually beneficial for our planet, our environment, our wild species and places, and will provide education and work for all. Our Organization first proved that something more and different could be achieved by developing, initiating, and implementing Ecosystem Restoration through the Canadian Swift fox Reintroduction programme (1971 to 1997). This required acquiring founder Swift foxes, Vulpes velox, for the CEI'S NEW captive-breeding colony from wildlife rehabilitation facilities in the USA. We had to obtain them from the USA because, by 1930, all Swift fox were extinct in Canada. It required persuading federal and provincial governments of the validity of the concept of ecosystem restoration through the reintroduction of a key, though extirpated(extinct in its range), indigenous species (the Swift fox). Without Federal and Provincial Permits being issued no reintroduction of an indigenous species could be undertaken. Six years after we began the programme in 1971, the Status of the Swift fox in Canada was classed as extirpated (extinct in Canada, COSEWIC 1978). Our Project required building, managing and funding the world's First captive-breeding colony of Swift foxes whose progeny was solely intended for reintroduction. It required building a compatible coalition of personnel from Universities, Federal, and Provincial governments and local ranchers.It required reintroducing 847 of our captive-bred Swift foxes. It was successful, the first successful reintroduction of an extirpated carnivore to occur. As result of this proven success, the Status of the Swift fox in Canada was changed from Extirpated in Canada to Endangered in Canada (COSEWIC 1998). The species is now listed as Threatened in Canada (COSEWIC 2005). In 1997, at the request of the Blackfoot Nation of Montana, USA, the CEI was asked to partner them in the First successful Swift fox reintroduction in the USA (1997 to 2005). Swift fox were classed as Extirpated in Montana and the Dakotas in the USA. This reintroduction was followed by a CEI and Kainai (Blood Tribe) Swift fox reintroduction in Canada, the First reintroduction of an extirpated indigenous species to be undertaken by an Aboriginal Tribe on Aboriginal land in Canada. From 1971 to date the our organization has, under Federal and Provincial Permit, accepted treated and released back into the wild orphaned or injured indigenous wildlife ranging from amphibians and reptiles to small mammals and indigenous canids (red fox, coyote), deer, wild sheep, moose, bear species, lynx, bobcat to passerine birds, birds of prey, waterfowl and waders. From 1971 to date we have provided experiential curricula-related educational experiences for local and Treaty 7 school children. We have provided external supervision for University Degree research to Students from 27 countries and 2 Canadian Provinces. In 2015 the CEI developed a non-profit research arm,The Cochrane Research Institute to undertake research and to manage the social initiative which funds the day to day expenses of the CEI. Annually, the CEI enthusiastically accepts volunteers, researchers, school and community groups to become involved, participate and help in the following programmes • WILDLIFE RESCUE REHABILITATION AND RELEASE, • ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION, • HANDS ON FIELD RESEARCH, PROVIDING PLACEMENTS FOR INTERNS TO GET SUPERVISED EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO LOOKING FOR A JOB • FIELD STATION EXTERNAL RESEARCH SUPERVISION FOR UNDERGRADUATE, AND GRADUATE RESEARCH DEGREE CANDIDATES • EDUCATION (K TO 12) AND PROVIDING SYMPOSIA FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND GIVING EDUCATIONAL TALKS TO SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND LIFE LONG LEARNING ASSOCIATIONS • MANAGEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAMMES FOR DOMESTIC PETS (DOGS AND CATS) • MANAGEMENT EDUCATION FOR APIARISTS. • WHALEFORCE AN INTERNATIONAL SURVEY ESTABLISHED IN 1986. Because of it's isolated and rural situation on native Montane habitat, never broken to the plough, in the Foothills of the Rockies the CEI can provide optimum facilities and purpose built enclosures for indigenous wildlife intended for release. Because of its focus on non-intrusive research the CEI researches suitable release sites (habitat, forage, prey/predator pressure, jurisdiction, present and future land usage) to ensure the animals returned to the wild will not come in conflict with humanity post-release. Because of its focus on Education the CEI can provide the experiences and the knowledge that will enable others to make thoughtful decisions on that are mutually beneficial for our planet, our environment, our wild species and places, education and ways to generate work for all.