Harvesting Conservation: Feeding Caribou with a Wilder Partnership

5 JUNE 2025 (Calgary, AB) – In the vast boreal forests of Canada, the woodland caribou—a symbol of wilderness and resilience—is quietly disappearing. Their numbers are shrinking, their habitats vanishing. But at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, hope is spreading—one handful of lichen at a time. 

With a total investment of $285,000 from TC Energy over three years, which includes dedicated annual funding of $85,000, the zoo’s innovative Lichen Harvesting Program is receiving a powerful boost. Built on community partnerships and conservation science, the program supplies a critical dietary supplement—lichen—to support the health and well-being of the zoo’s resident woodland caribou. 

“Lichen isn’t just food—it’s survival,” said Dr. Larisa Jancewicz, Supervisor of Animal Nutrition at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. “In the wild, it can make up as much as 85% of a woodland caribou’s winter diet. It’s incredibly slow-growing and sensitive, which makes our ethical harvesting practices all the more important. Supplementing our zoo caribou with lichen not only provides nutritional benefits, but also encourages natural feeding behaviour”. 

As the largest of the seven subspecies of caribou, an adult woodland caribou typically consumes five to nine kilograms of food daily, depending on the season and reproductive status. During winter, when nutrient-rich forage is scarce, lichens, able to survive extreme weather, become their primary energy source and play a critical role in sustaining caribou through the harsh months. 

Recognizing the vital role lichen plays for caribou, the zoo’s Animal Nutrition and Animal Health teams forged relationships with local communities and school groups in Alberta and British Columbia to ethically harvest this nutritional powerhouse. The careful, respectful process not only supplements the zoo’s woodland caribou’s diet but also educates and inspires young nature enthusiasts, fostering deeper connections between people and wildlife. 

This news precedes World Caribou Day on June 6—a day dedicated to raising awareness about at-risk caribou populations and the urgent need to protect their habitats. Woodland caribou are listed globally as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and Alberta’s woodland caribou are considered Threatened under Canada’s Species at Risk Act due to habitat loss, climate change, and deforestation. Alberta’s caribou population is declining by 50 per cent every nine years, with some Arctic subspecies seeing a 90 per cent drop in population. The generous support of TC Energy will amplify the zoo’s purpose to act for wildlife, like woodland caribou. 

For TC Energy, the decision to support the Lichen Harvesting Program was a natural fit. 

“The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is a leader when it comes to working with species at risk, as well as habitat conservation,” said Sharon Tomkins, Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer. “We are proud to support caribou conservation efforts that will not only protect this important species and advance long-term environmental resilience but educate and inspire the next generation.”  

This impactful collaboration between TC Energy and the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo underscores the power of partnerships in driving meaningful conservation efforts. Together, we can foster deeper connections between people and nature, helping to safeguard a sustainable future for Canada’s diverse wildlife. 

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For more information contact:
Alison Archambault
Director, Brand & Engagement
403.232.7766 | 403.919.9482 | mediarelations@calgaryzoo.com 

For more than 30 years, the internationally accredited Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has been a leading authority in wildlife conservation, reintroducing threatened species to the wild and empowering communities to conserve natural resources to positively impact both the environment and local inhabitants. 

While our work is global, our roots run deep in the Albertan conservation community. Sitting on 125 acres in the heart of the city, we operate one of the oldest charities in Alberta, the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo – a not-for-profit charitable wildlife conservation organization that works to fight the extinction of plants and animals worldwide. In addition to the zoo, we proudly operate the Archibald Biodiversity Centre (ABC), Canada’s largest conservation breeding and research facility. Nestled on 330 acres in the Albertan prairies, the ABC is a stronghold for biodiversity and a temporary home to some of Canada’s most iconic species-at-risk. 

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is passionate about inspiring and educating generations of visitors about the importance of biodiversity and conservation. Together, we will continue to be a force of nature for making the world a wilder place. Learn more at WilderInstitute.org and CalgaryZoo.com.