Mountain Caribou and the Inland Rainforest

On Friday, February 3, 2017, David Moskowitz – expert wildlife tracker, photographer, and author – returned to Highland Wonders, bringing an evening of photos and stories exploring the world endangered mountain caribou and the last great inland temperate rainforest left on the planet.

David and a small team of adventurers have been tracking down these rare creatures and documenting the stunning world they call home. The event described the many challenges facing these beautiful creatures and the unique ecosystem they inhabit, as well as the shifting focus of conservation efforts in the face of 21st century challenges.

Fewer than 15 caribou remain in the herd that crosses back and forth between the United States and Canada in the Pacific Northwest, while the entire population of this endangered population of caribou is now less then 1,500 across their entire range, which stretches north into central British Columbia. As their habitat is steadily altered and destroyed by human activity, herds across the entire range continue to decline despite a variety of conservation efforts. In the presentation, community members learned about why this is, and what it has to teach us about carrying for our planet’s natural heritage on both local and global scales.