Kirk the caribou (Image Credit: Sydney Chisholm/CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

BC WILDLIFE PARK

Rehabilitated caribou calf finds home at BC Wildlife Park

Aug 13, 2024 | 6:15 PM

KAMLOOPS– A year ago, the BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops took in a woodland caribou calf on the brink of death. Thanks to efforts from the Caribou Recovery Alliance and staff at the Wildlife Park, Kirk the caribou is happy, healthy and calls the park home.

It’s been a long journey for Kirk, who made his way to the Fawcett Family Rehabilitation Centre as a ten day old calf.

“I think it’s hard not to be a favorite. He’s a very special little guy,” said Tracy Reynolds, animal care manager at the BC Wildlife Park.

“And just the amount of care that we had to give him to have him survive– he was cared for by pretty much most of the animal care team. We actually had to take shifts. Lots of us stayed overnight or we’re here late at night feeding him. He was fed every 3 hours for the first few months.”

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As an under-weight runt, staff were unsure if Kirk would properly develop to be released back in the Selkirk Mountains with his former herd.

“He’s still maybe a little bit small for his age, but he seems to be doing quite well and we’re quite pleased with that,” said Reynolds.

“I think it’s going he’s going to be staying with us at the park… due to being hand-raised and maybe his size– he would not be a good candidate to release.”

Without any other caribou at the park, staff had to get creative in meeting the calves social needs.

“He lives now with Cleo, our llama, and he was also living with our one of our sheep named Dave,” the animal care manager explained.

“We had him with other four legged creatures so he could learn how to be a caribou a little bit more because obviously we did not have another caribou for him at this point. We still don’t have another caribou, but we hope to get some friends for him in the future.”

Kirk and Cleo can be observed by park-goers at the seasonal habitat across from the playground, but In the heat of the day, Kirk often spends his time in a custom air conditioned barn at the back of his enclosure.

“So caribou, like to live in fairly high elevation or they live in northern climates as well,” said Reynolds.

“If it is a hot day in the summer, you might not see him. Definitely better to come view him early in the morning or later in the day or in a cooler day and and definitely in the in the cooler times of the year, he’ll be quite in his element.”