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Journal
Publications
Nishi, J.S., Elkin B.T.,
Ellsworth T.R., Balsillie D.W., Wilson G.A., and van Kessel J.. 2001. An
overview of the Hook Lake Wood Bison Recovery Project: where have we come
from, where are we now, and where we would like to go? Pages 215-233 in
Rutley, B.D., ed., Bison are Back – 2000. Proceedings of the Second
International Bison Conference, Aug 2-4, 2000, Edmonton, AB
PDF = 1316 KB)
Abstract:
The Hook
Lake Wood Bison Recovery Project (HLWBRP) is a wildlife conservation project
run cooperatively between the Deninu Kue’ First Nation, Fort Resolution
Aboriginal Wildlife Harvesters’ Committee, and the Government of the
Northwest Territories, Canada. The overall objective of the HLWBRP is to
establish a captive, disease-free herd of wood bison (Bison bison
athabascae) from a wild herd infected with bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium
bovis) and brucellosis (Brucella abortus), and use the captive
herd as source stock to establish a disease-free wild population. Through
the HLWBRP we are pursuing a phased approach to the long-term objectives of
habitat management, disease eradication, genetic conservation, and recovery
of wood bison in the Slave River Lowlands. We provide a synopsis of the
northern bison disease issue, an overview of the rationale of HLWBRP, and a
report on the progress of this pilot project. We also discuss the benefits
and necessities of working within a co-management framework to achieve
meaningful progress on a contentious wildlife management issue. |
