BC WILDLIFE PARK KERMODE BEAR HABITAT PROJECT UPDATE

T:\PRCS\PKS & FAC\REP\2014\Kermode Bear Habitat Project Update.docx

December 10, 2014

COUNCIL REPORT TO THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FROM THE PARKS, RECREATION, AND CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

ON

BC WILDLIFE PARK KERMODE BEAR HABITAT PROJECT UPDATE

PURPOSE To provide Council with an update regarding the new Kermode bear habitat project, located at the BC Wildlife Park (BCWP) at 9077 Dallas Drive. The City is investing $400,000 from gaming reserves in this project - $250,000 in 2014 and $150,000 in 2015. SUMMARY The BCWP received care of Clover, a Kermode bear, in October 2012, from the BC Ministry of Environment (MOE) via the Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter (Northern Lights), located in Smithers, BC. Kermode bears are considered to be one of the rarest types of bear in the world. Clover was orphaned in 2011 and began to seek human company. Although Northern Lights and the MOE made their best efforts to rehabilitate him, it was determined he would not likely survive outside of captivity. Since his arrival at the BCWP, Clover has been cared for in a temporary habitat and is in very good health. In 2013, the BCWP began a fundraising effort to create a world-class habitat for Clover. This new habitat is 2.8 ac. and will be built to exceed the standards of care outlined by Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums. The overall budget for the project is $750,000. Funding partners have been confirmed and construction began in 2014, with Phase One 95% complete (Attachment "A"). Phase One consists of a denning and housing building, natural vegetation, a 10 ft. chain-link fence, two large ponds, a rock bed creek between the ponds, and split-rail fencing for public pathways. Phase One also includes the cost to relocate habitat fencing for the elk that formerly occupied that space. Phase Two will be completed in 2015 and includes an interpretive centre for guests to learn about the bear's natural habitat and conservation. A raised viewing platform with 30 ft. of glass will be completed and will include a 100 ft. elevated walkway for park guests to enjoy unobstructed viewing of the bear habitat. The BCWP's staff plan on introducing Clover to his new habitat in the spring. He is currently denning for the winter in his temporary holding area. The BCWP and Tourism Kamloops have received numerous inquiries from the international group tour travel market, and plans are in place to host these coach tours on a regular basis in 2015. There is also considerable local and regional interest in seeing the bear in his new habitat.

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BC WILDLIFE PARK KERMODE BEAR HABITAT PROJECT UPDATE December 10, 2014 Page 2


RECOMMENDATION: For Council information only.

COUNCIL POLICY There is no applicable Council policy. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The City is providing funds for the project (No. 948107) from gaming reserves. 2014 - $250,000 2015 - $150,000 Phase 1 - Funding Sources City of Kamloops $250,000 Ron Fawcett 125,220 Park Donations 16,900 Pronto Enterprises 5,000 in kind Hall Excavating 3,000 in kind Lafarge Cement 4,880 in kind Total $405,000 Phase 2 - Funding Sources City of Kamloops $150,000 Ron Fawcett 24,780 Proposed Park Donations • Telus Communications • Pronto Enterprises • KGHM Ajax Mine • Hall Excavating • Lafarge Cement

170,220

Total $345,000

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BC WILDLIFE PARK KERMODE BEAR HABITAT PROJECT UPDATE December 10, 2014 Page 3


_____________________________________ B. J. McCorkell Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Director Approved for Council Consideration: Concurrence: S. E. Edwards, BBA, CMA, Finance Director Author: J. Putnam, B.Comm., Parks and Civic Facilities Manager JP/lm/kjm Attachment

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BC Wildlife Park

Kermode Bear Habitat Project

Progress Report

November 2014

Attachment "A"

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Summary:

The new Kermode Bear Habitat project at the BC Wildlife Park is to provide a

world class habitat for one of the rarest Bears in the world. The project will be

completed to two phases over an 18 month period, with the first phase being

completed in the fall of 2014 and the second phase to be completed in summer of

2015.

Scope of work phases:

Phase one;

Will include a cement denning and housing building with five separate holding

areas to house up to four Bears. Attached to the housing building will be two

enclosed outdoor holding areas. The new habitat will be 2.8 acres in size, have

plenty of natural vegetation and some planted shrubs that will be irrigated (in

phase two) and be enclosed with 10 high chain link fence and include two large

ponds and a rock bed creek between the ponds. The fencing will have hotwires

attached for safety and the public viewing will be from a raised Ready Rock

platform with thirty feet of one inch safety glass.

To make room for the project, phase one will also include the relocation of

habitat fencing for the Elk and the relocation of our public pathways.

Phase two;

Will include an Interpretive Centre for guests to learn about natural Bear habitat

and conservation, including being Bear Aware and the relationships with First

Nations. A second raised Ready Rock viewing platform with thirty feet of glass

will be added, as well as 100 feet of elevated walkway for our guests to have

unobstructed viewing of the Bear Habitat and have access to view and learn

about the BC Wildlife Parks Burrowing Owl Conservation Program.

Status of Phase one:

Although there is still some work to complete on phase one, 95% is complete and

to a point whereas the Kermode Bear could be moved to his new home to den for

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the winter. However, he has shown signs of slowing down and has a reduced

appetite to getting ready to den up for the winter, so he will be den in his current

holding area and be moved to the New Habitat in the spring when he awakes. The

decision was to not put the Bear in any harm with sedation with a reduced

metabolism and heart rate during this time of year.

Long Term Plan for Bears at the Park

The completion of this new much larger Habitat will allow us to relocate the two

female Black Bears, and one male Black Bear currently in our smaller Black Bear

habitat over with Clover. The current Black Bear habitat and denning building was

simply too small to house four adult bears and definitely not suitable for two male

bears as there is a risk of injury due to crowding. This introduction will be done in

two steps, first, one female will be introduced to Clover and once they have

settled in and bonded, we will then introduce the other female and male.

Once all four Black Bears are relocated, this will also allow us to relocate the

Grizzly Bears to the back of the Park after a few modifications are made to the

smaller Black Bear Habitat. The habitat the Grizzlies are currently in is not suitable

for the long term and as the Grizzlies grow they will require a more secure habitat

and one they will not out grow.

With all our Bears in Habitats that more natural and spacious, we can add or

move an animal species more suited to the habitat vacated by the Grizzlies.

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Budget:

The overall budget for the project will be $750,000 with $405,000 allocated to

Phase one, and $345,000 allocated to Phase two.

Phase 1 - Funding sources:

City of Kamloops $250,000

Ron Fawcett $125,220

Park Donations $ 16,900

Pronto Enterprises $ 5,000 in kind

Hall Excavating $ 3,000 in kind

Lafarge Cement $ 4,880 in kind

Total $405,000

Phase 2 - Funding sources:

City of Kamloops $150,000

Ron Fawcett $ 24,780

Proposed Park Donations: $170,220

- Telus Communications

- Pronto Enterprises

- KGHM Ajax Mine

- Hall Excavating

- Lafarge Cement

Total $345,000

Expenses:

Total invoiced and Paid to date $318,099

Outstanding work and invoices $ 87,000

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Photos of new Kermode Bear Habitat:

New public Pathway east of new Kermode Habitat

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New Public viewing Platform (fall protection still to be installed)

Denning Building service side and Zookeeper entrance

Denning Building and outside holding areas

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Holding areas in interior of Denning Building

Habitat fencing with hotwire supports

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Documents

BC WILDLIFE PARK KERMODE BEAR HABITAT PROJECT UPDATE