Alarmed by the dwindling population of British Columbia’s northern spotted owls, scientists have recommended captive breeding of the creatures to save them from extinction. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the existing number of birds is fewer than two dozens in the province.
The team of Pacific Northwest scientists submitted a 50-page report some two months back and it was only recently that their recommendations came to the fore.
They said biologists should take half or all of the birds in captivity, breed them at zoos before releasing them back into the wild.
The report said:
We do not recommend implementing the captive breeding and reintroduction approach without such a commitment, as one without the other is not likely to succeed.
Mark Zacharias, of Species at Risk Coordination Office in Victoria, confirmed that the report had been received and action would be taken soon.
He said:
We expect to make a decision on it in the next couple of weeks, and we will be looking at additional habitat protections for the spotted owl.
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