British Columbia Wildlife Park

The proposal In 1965, the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce felt that Kamloops was a 'one-night stop' for tourists and that more attractions would be needed to convince visitors to stay longer, which would benefit the local economy. On February 15, 1965, the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce were approached by animal enthusiast and eventual wildlife park founder John Moelaert, who proposed that an idea of a zoological park would be the perfect attraction to boost the local economy, because it would attract both visitors and residents. Other than John Moelaert, the public meeting were also attended by Kamloops City Council aldermen Tony Andrew, Gene Cavazzi and Malcolm Grant, as well as, North Kamloops Town Council alderman Albert McGowan, Head of the Kamloops branch of the British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Len Smith, and architect Bud Aubrey (who would eventually provide drawings for the buildings and exhibits for the wildlife park). After the establishment of an executive committee, the society was then officially incorporated and registered under the British Columbia Societies Act, a few weeks later. Through the merger of boundaries, the BC Wildlife Park were within the city's boundaries and responsibilities to discuss saving the park from closure. Present Since 1972, the BC Wildlife Park has gone through continual changes and enhancements through the support of volunteers and business professionals throughout the province. In 1987, the BC Wildlife Park attained national status when it received accreditation from the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA). Today, the Kamloops Wildlife Park Society is governed by a volunteer board of 14 directors, who are elected at the Annual General Meeting from a membership of over 8,000 people. ==Conservation and education projects==

TD Canada Trust Nature Exchange The BC Wildlife Park opened the Nature Exchange in order to teach people about biological and physical components of their environment, through observation, background research and responsible collecting. If people have a natural item they can bring it to the Nature Exchange and get experienced staff to see and discuss the item with the collector on what the object is, where it came from, why it is special and any other details. Collectors are encouraged to further their knowledge of nature through research in the adjacent resource library. Staff can award the exchange based on three criteria: • Collector's knowledge of the item and how they share that information with staff • What distinguishes the item from other similar items • The condition of the item Through this process, the collector learns that the simplest object can be awarded a high point value, if the collector shows initiative. The process of trading provides the necessary motivation. In searching for things to collect and trade, individuals learn to observe, to ask questions, and to think independently. Points that are awarded based on the three criteria will be placed on the Nature Exchange computer trading data bank, which will be used for future trading for items in the constantly rotating collection of artifacts and other items that collectors can take home to enjoy. Visitors can take the item with them as part of their collection or bring it back to trade it for another item. However, due to federal and provincial regulations, the BC Wildlife Park through the Nature Exchange will raise awareness and emphasize the importance on ethical collecting, on responsible outdoor recreation, and on sustainable living practices. For example, it is unlawful to have British Columbia wildlife as domestic pets or to collect cast off antlers. People will be encouraged to enjoy nature in a sustainable way, and that means that items like bird's nests, flowers or animal bones should be photographed or sketched, but left physically undisturbed for everyone to appreciate. The Nature Exchange will include an Answers & Resources Library and Trading Zone as well as five distinct zones: Animals, Insects, Plants & Trees, Rocks, Minerals & Fossils, and Skulls and Bones. Community stewardship The BC Wildlife Park have a policy to be committed to promoting a sustainable and responsible environmental practices. Through this policy, all new construction at or in association with the park will follow strict environmental standards from the types of materials being used; to the way they heat and light their facilities and how they can reuse recyclable material whenever they can. The Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre staff and volunteers work closely with the Ministry of Environment as well as community partners to provide rehabilitation services for injured, ill, or orphaned mammals, birds of prey, amphibians, reptiles and endangered species until they can be returned to their natural habitats. As of now, BC Wildlife Park has the largest burrowing owl breeding facility in North America. Prior to 1980, British Columbia's burrowing owl population had almost been extirpated from the grassland areas of the Thompson-Okanagan region. To prevent the species from going extinct in the British Columbia grasslands, the BC Wildlife Park participated in the British Columbia Burrowing Owl Recovery Program in 1990, with the construction of its first breeding facility. The main goal of the Breeding Program is to achieve a self-supporting burrowing owl population in British Columbia's grasslands through population increase, habitat improvement, and public education. To increase the population, about 100 owls are born and raised within the breeding facility. After one year, those same owls would then be released into the grasslands of the Thompson-Okanagan area after staff carefully select a proper release site. In terms, of habitat and education, the wildlife park's education department undertakes extensive interpretive programs and field trips that involve schools and other community groups to promote local awareness about the burrowing owls' plight. In addition, the park's burrowing owl ambassador, is very well known in the local community, and will promote the fundamental message that people of all ages can do something to preserve and protect endangered grassland species. Furthermore, the breeding program is a partnership that includes wildlife park staff, volunteers, local landowners, and the British Columbia Ministry of Education, which also helps in delivering its message and objectives. After twelve years with the program, BC Wildlife Park constructed a new Burrowing Owl Recovery Centre within its grounds in 2002. The new facility is capable of producing over 100 young owls for release each year. The design of the Burrowing Owl Recovery Centre was developed by BC Wildlife Park staff and is currently being copied by other North American facilities due to its success as a leader in Burrowing Owl captive breeding for release according to the National Burrowing Owl Team. In addition, BC Wildlife Park also received an award of excellence for its captive breeding program from the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2004. ==Attractions==

• Highland Valley Copper Amphitheatre • Home Hardware Corral • Wildlife Express - narrow gauge railway • Zippity Zoo Zone Playground & Splash Park ==References==