Calgary Zoo releases marmots into the wild.

Vancouver Island marmots born in captivity and raised at the Calgary Zoo were successfully released into the wild recently, providing hope that the highly endangered mammals will make a dramatic comeback from near extinction. The zoo released four animals, two wild and two born in captivity, and paired the wild animals with the captive-born marmots in hopes of giving any new pups a chance of inheriting natural instincts.

The Vancouver Island marmot is one of the world's rarest mammals and the most endangered animal in North America, numbering less than 30 in the wild and 81 in captivity. The decline in their numbers has been attributed to clearcut logging of high elevation forests. It is hoped that the population can increase to between 400 and 600 individuals within the next 10 to 15 years (Adapted from an article in the Calgary Herald by Jessica Foster).