Jenna's Report
Mysterious, tucked away from reality, striving
for existence among our targeting world, lies the white moose.
The white moose is neither albino, nor a separate species or
subspecies, they have brown eyes and brown dots on their fur.
These rare moose resulted from mating between both a bull and
cow carrying an altered recessive gene (Macintosh, 2002). Random
genetic mutations may only occur once in a million years. Therefore,
the intrigue with the white moose arises because the possibilities
that one random genetic alteration could occur in two animals
in minuscule. With only a few left in existence, and endemic
to only a few small areas of the world, this declining type
of moose is in great risk of anthropogenic extinction. Without
protection these animals are at great risk of hunting and affects
of habitat fragmentation. So why isn't the white moose protected?
Is the overall goal of conservation biologists not to "retain
all the actors in the evolutionary play and the ecological stage
in which they perform" (Soule, 1985)? Even without the knowledge
of intrinsic value to humans, through medicinal or economical
purposes, this animal has the right to survival. While the Canadian
Wildlife Associations stand idle, this spectacular creature
is slowly slipping into extinction. Without protection this
mystic animal will never be seen or appreciated by generations
to come. My hope of this essay is that many people will join
in the crusade to preserve these dwindling creatures because
only at this instant in time do we have the right to decide
the fate of these precious animals.
One of the unique characteristics of conservation biology is
that it is a crisis discipline. Therefore, many of the problems
that conservation biologists address are urgent, and require
immediate action, even without complete knowledge (Caroll and
Meffe, 1997). The white moose, to my knowledge, is currently
an unstudied species. However, waiting to collect the necessary
data could mean extinction of these last few animals. Biologists
must begin working with the best intuition and creativity to
preserve the white moose. The white moose demonstrates that
it meets most of the criteria of an endangered animal. The only
problem left is to gain acknowledgment from the world and begin
the restoration process.
The white moose meets the standards of an endangered species
proposed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife
in Canada (COSEWIC ). Using COSEWIC's assessment process and
criteria information, the first aspect to examine is that the
white moose has taxonomic validity. COSEWIC would normally only
consider species and subspecies or varieties that have been
established as valid in published taxonomic works or from taxonomic
specialists. However, COSEWIC would protect a distinct population
if it has national significance. National significance can be
determined by the Guidelines for Recognizing Designatable Units
Below the Species Level (COSEWIC, 2002). The units to which
status may be assigned below the species level are recognized,
in the following order of precedence, 1.) Established taxonomy,
2.) genetic evidence, 3.) Range disjunction, and 4.) Biogeographic
distinction. The white moose would fit into the second category,
genetic evidence. The criteria necessary to meet the categories
requirements are "evidence of genetic distinctiveness including,
but not limited to, appropriate inherited traits and/or genetic
markers" (COSEWIC, 2002). The white moose fur is a result of
a recessive mutant gene in both the bull and cow. The rarely
expressed gene alters the phenotype of the resulting calf making
the offspring appear white. Therefore, the white moose meets
COSEWIC's first criteria of an endangered animal.
Secondly, COSEWIC only considers native species. "A native species
is an indigenous species that occurs in Canada naturally" (COSEWIC,
2002). The species must have "produced viable populations, and
persisted in Canada for at least 50 years" (COSEWIC, 2002).
The white moose is definitely an indigenous species to Canada.
Originally it was only found along highway 101 between Chapleau,
Foleyet, and Timmins, Ontario and in a small area of Southern
Alberta. Two other sightings have since been announced in LaReine,
Quebec and Newfoundland. White moose sightings have never been
reported outside of Canada. The earliest reported shooting was
more than 20 years ago near Cochrane, Ontario. In addition,
Dumoulins Tackle Store in Timmins Ontario has a photograph of
a white bull moose that was estimated to be taken in 1969. Therefore,
the likelihood that these animals have been around for close
to 50 years is great. However, more scientific research would
be necessary.
Furthermore, the COSEWIC assessment criterion states that the
animal requires habitat in Canada. COSEWIC considers species
that are year round residents in Canada or require habitat in
Canada for a key life history stage (COSEWIC, 2002). The white
moose also meets this requirement. It spends its entire life
in the Canadian forests.
There are also many special cases that allow an animal to be
considered eligible for conservation. One reason is a high risk
of extinction (COSEWIC, 2002). The low population size of white
moose gives the moose a higher rate of extinction because it
may not be able to survive even a slight natural or anthropogenic
disturbance. The white moose is also vulnerable to extinction
because of their high trophic levels. They are large and rare
with slow population growth rates. The white moose is also an
endemic species. Their restricted ranges are often threatened
by habitat loss and degradation.
A combination of both in-situ (within habitat) conservation
and ex-situ (unnatural environments) would be necessary to preserve
the white moose. In-situ conservation involves the management
of ecological processes and human activities where and when
they occur (Carroll and Meffe, 1997). In order to successfully
preserve the white moose in its environment three major issues
that are detrimental to the moose survival must be controlled:
hunting, habitat fragmentation, and predators. Hunters have
already been reported to have taken the lives of three white
moose. One was shot near Cochrane Ontario, a bull moose was
shot in Timmins by a local trophy hunter, and the last one was
killed in between LaReine, Quebec and Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario.
Furthermore, habitat fragmentation is a major issue leading
to the extinction of not only moose, but many species. The logging
companies are clearing trees at a miraculous rate. Forestry
does not necessarily always have negative impacts on the environment.
Selective cutting would allow for rapid succession and regrowth,
and in turn, increase food supplies. However, clear cutting
the forests is reducing the available quantity of food. "During
the fall, winter, and spring, moose feed on the previous summer's
growth of aspen, black poplar, willow, birch, hazel, dogwood,
and balsam fir. In summer, moose prefer vegetation that grows
in water" (Crichton, 2004). Additionally, habitat fragmentation
results in greater exposure to predator species. "Despite their
size and ability moose fall prey to wolves and bears. Some studies
have shown the bears can kill up to 75 percent of newborns in
their first eight weeks of life" (Crichton, 2004). The number
of calves falling prey to the great bear population could be
controlled by re-initiating the spring bear hunt. Human economic
activities are also resulting in the death of many of the white
moose. The railroad track has been designed to run through the
heart of moose territory. Near the 101 highway alone, at least
two white moose have been killed in train accidents. Furthermore,
"in late spring, and early summer, moose lick natural salt deposits,
found in salt springs or roadside runoff to replenish their
mineral reserves used up over the winter" (Crichton, 2004).
Although there have been no reported vehicle accidents, chances
of death are amplified because the salt is attracting the moose
to the highways.
It is not feasible to completely stop logging, eliminate all
predator species, and abandon the railway and roadway access.
However, even slight protection of their habitats would increase
survival rates. One possibility for in-situ conservation would
be to adapt the United States incentive-based approaches to
conservation. Recently, the conservation organization Defenders
of Wildlife offered a $5000 reward to any private landowner
in the northern Rockies on whose land wolves successfully reproduced.
This offer lead to private landowners striving to make their
property an optimal environment for the endangered wolf (Caroll
and Meffe, 1997). The simple idea underlying incentive-based
approaches is that, given a choice, most people will do what
is in their economic self interest. If a conservation program
can be designed that allows people to further their self interest
by helping the environment, they will do so. This idea might
bring logging private land, habitat destruction, and hunting
on private property to a rapid halt.
Furthermore, another strategy that could be used to preserve
the white moose is ex-situ conservation. This process involves
"maintaining individuals in unnatural environments under close
supervision" (Caroll and Meffe, 1997). This conservation strategy
has been used for species such as the giant panda, and rhinoceros
because their populations in natural habitats are so small that
extinction risk is very high. It may be advantageous to capture
the remaining white moose and breed them in captivity to increase
the population size. If the population size reached a sustainable
level, they could then be reintroduced into the wild. Furthermore,
the captive populations could be studied and conservation efforts
could be directed appropriately. If the white moose where in
captivity it would enhance public awareness and hopefully gain
increased financial support.
The Earlton Zoo is the only zoo north of Toronto. This zoo has
undergone a recent transformation. The exotics such as tigers,
lions and zebras have found new homes in other Canadian zoos.
The focus is now on the fascinating wildlife of Canada's North
(James Bay Frontier Travel Association, 2003). This zoo could
provide a magnificent new habitat for the white moose. With
the Earlton Zoo already being designed to accommodate large
carnivores and herbivores, minimal funding would be needed to
provide a habitat for the white moose. This new addition to
the zoo would allow for conservation biologists to study the
species and optimally increase the population size. The increase
in funds from tourism would be able to pay for many of the additional
costs.
The ongoing rally to protect the white moose has begun in a
few small northern communities: Foleyet, Chapleau, and Timmins.
With the support of the Ministry of Natural Resources the white
moose would help the struggle to promote ecotourism. These northern
communities have a resource at their fingertips that could help
the depressed economic environment while promoting ecotourism.
In Chapleau, there is a 2,000,000 acre crown game preserve,
which is the largest game preserve in the world (Bob Riviere,
2004). If the ministry would aid in the protection of the white
moose, these animals could be bred in captivity and greatly
increase tourism. The government is distributing great funds
into this game preserve, and the simple addition of the white
moose could result in a drastic increase in support. Jane Armstrong,
a Foleyet resident, battled with the Ministry's District Managers
to have a white calf put in the protection of Cedar Meadows
after its mother was killed in a train accident last fall. However,
no action was taken to protect this abandoned animal. Jane Armstrong
now believes that the white moose population may have dwindled
to two sole survivors.
With the numerous conservation strategies that would reverse
the white moose decline, it is amazing that action has not yet
been taken. Around the world, many similar distinct animal classes
are considered endangered. For example, the white Bengal tiger
has the similar genetic distinctions that define the white moose.
White tigers are not a different species of tiger. They are
just white colored Bengal tigers. Like the white moose, they
are not albinos, they have blue eyes, pink noses, and black
stripes on their fur. However, one difference is the United
States is spending millions of dollars to raise the last individuals
by ex-situ conservation. With only 30-90 white tigers in the
United States, drastic measures are being taken to increase
the population size and insure high genetic diversity (White
Tigers Organization, 2001). Not only the United states, but
many other countries have recognized the white tiger as an endangered
animal. India has a 426-hectare park, Nanadankanan Zoological
Park, dedicated to preserving the remaining white tigers (White
Tiger Organization, 2001). With all of these other countries
fighting to preserve this genetically distinct lineage of animals,
why are Canadian wildlife associations standing idle while the
white moose slips into extinction?
Thirteen states have also passed a law making it illegal to
kill albino game animals (The Hunters Network, 2004). The Montana
Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission has issued a regulation
prohibiting the shooting of any deer with more than 75 percent
white colorations in Golden Valley Country. The broad law would
allow for not only the protection of albinos, but also the recessive
mutant animals that would arise like the white moose. In addition,
the Idaho Fish and Game were informed in September 2003 of a
white albino moose. Steve Huffaker, head of Idaho Fish and Game,
immediately signed a closure order to immediately protect the
moose. The order termed the white moose as a "unique and rare
animal, worthy of protection to allow study and public viewing"
(The Hunters Network, 2004). These few examples demonstrate
the immediate action that is being taken around the world to
preserve genetically distinct animals. It is Canadians' responsibility
to join in the same crusade to protect our endangered white
moose from extinction.
With the aid of the Ministry of Natural Resources and every
additional signature on the Save The White Moose Petition, many
northern communities begin to bind together to fight for the
preservation of one of the most magnificent creatures of our
Canadian forest. As we walk into the future, our ultimate goal
should be to preserve the natural beauty and species diversity
for generations to come. As a resident of Foleyet, Ontario,
the self proclaimed white moose capital of the world, I am hoping
that this extra bit of public awareness will be enough to touch
the hearts of many northern residents. Currently there are thousands
of signatures on the Save the White Moose Petition. However,
with the amount of effort that would be needed to save these
wonderful animals, many more are still needed. So my plea to
you is to you pledge your support however you can. Take a stand
and join the crusade to save these exceptional, mystic creatures.
The Rare, The Wondrous,
The White Moose
Quote given by hunters to the disappointed
owner of the tourist operation, Air Ivanhoe Limited.
"What's wrong with killing it? Looks to me like there's nothing
wrong with the meat."
Bibliography
Caroll R.C., and Meffe, G.K. 1997. Principles
of Conservation Biology, Second Edition. pp 77-78 and pp 347-382.
Sinauer Associations, Massachusetts
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife
in Canada (COSEWIC). 2002. Assessment Process and Criteria.
Government of Canada. The website is http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct0/Assessment_process_tbl1_e.cfm
Crichton, V. 2004 Moose. Encarta. The website
is http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563637/Moose.html#endads
Macintosh, J. 2002. The White Moose. The website
is http://dinojoe.8m.com/crypto/whitemoose.html
Norton, B.G. 1986. The Preservation of Species:
The value of Biological Diversity. Princeton University Press,
Princeton, New Jersey
Riviere, B. 2004. The Chapleau Crown Game Preserve.
The website is http://www.chapleaugamepreserve.com/
The Hunters Network, 2004. Season Closed on
Albino Moose. The website is http://www.biggame-hunting.com/gallery/moose_photos1.htm
White Tigers Organization. 2001. White Tigers.
The website is http://www.white-tigers.org/
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