The Tonquin Valley caribou population is on the verge of extinction, but the newly established Caribou Conservation Breeding Centre near Jasper has reported success with the birth of seven healthy calves. Currently, only 50 wild caribou remain in the area, with breeding efforts aimed at increasing this number to 200 over the next five to ten years. The facility, built at a cost of $40 million, is designed to minimize human interaction while providing care and breeding support for the animals. Plans include releasing male calves back into the wild while keeping females in captivity to strengthen the breeding herd.
