Conservationists are attending a summit to save a rare bird and a local energy company is lending a financial hand to the Calgary Zoo to help with its endangered species program.
The Alberta Wilderness Association is hosting a two day summit focusing on the endangered sage-grouse and scientists say the population in the province is in trouble.
The sage-grouse habitat is near Manyberries, about 71 km south of Medicine Hat.
Thirty years ago there were about a 1000 birds living in the area, but now there are only 30.
Experts say the decline is directly related to the thriving oil and gas industry in southeastern Alberta.
"Sage-grouse are very sensitive to disturbance, and over the last 30 years there's been an escalation in oil and gas development, primarily natural gas development in southeastern Alberta," said Mark Boyce, from the University of Alberta.
Scientists at the summit say energy companies need to revamp the way they operate so that they will not impact the sage-grouse.
They suggest the companies look at directional drilling and avoid the area during breeding.
"If we're interested in maintaining the species long term and not see them extirpated from Canada, we need to change those practices, modify, reclaim those habitats, and remove those stressors that pose a risk to the birds," said Cameron Aldridge, PhD of Environmental Biology/Ecology.
Husky Energy showed its commitment to preservation and conservation with a $1.25 million donation to the Calgary Zoo. The money will be used to fund the Husky Energy Endangered Species Program.
Zoo researchers are currently working with seven endangered species and have had success in the past with whooping cranes, swift foxes and black footed ferrets.
The facility's endangered program is 80 percent privately funded and focuses on re-introducing species into areas where they no longer exist.
