Wildlife populations can too often decline before wildlife managers notice. Although counting animals is one of the most fundamental activities biologists do, it is also the most difficult. Newly published research by the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation (KXN), the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, and the University of Victoria shows the importance of listening to those that have lived near wildlife for millennia. Their findings, published in the open-access peer-reviewed journal, Conservation Science and Practice, show that mountain goats in KXN territory and beyond in British Columbia are of conservation concern. First to detect the changes, the KXN will be the first to address them with conservation management.
British Columbia mountain goat population in decline: study
British Columbia’s central coast is losing an animal of significant cultural value to the region’s Indigenous people as fewer mountain goats are seen in its craggy peaks, a new study says.
The study published Tuesday in the open-access peer-reviewed journal Conservation Science and Practice also highlighted the importance of listening to Indigenous peoples because they first noticed a decline in the population years ago.
Douglas Neasloss, chief councillor of the First Nation that participated in the study, said he’s been watching the decline for more than 20 years in its territory.
