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For Immediate Release
Defenders of Wildlife Canada Congratulates CP Railway for Grain Car Repair Announcement
Canmore, Alberta -- Defenders of Wildlife Canada today congratulated the Canadian Pacific Railway for announcing it intends to repair more than 6,000 hopper cars suspected of leaking grain between the prairies and west coast terminals.
"This is a very important step in conserving grizzly bears and other wildlife in Banff National Park," said Jim Pissot, executive director of Defenders of Wildlife Canada. "When animals are drawn to the tracks for a meal of grain, they are no match for a two-mile long train bearing down on them."
Repairs are scheduled over the next five years, according to a CP Railway spokesperson, with about 70 percent of the defective gates slated for replacement within three years.
Significant amounts of spilled grain have been observed between the rails in Banff National Park over the past several years. Grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, coyotes, elk and deer have been struck and killed as they forage for grain or use the right-of-way for easy passage. Canadian Pacific Railway trains have killed four grizzly bears within Banff National Park since 2000, and none of the five yearling cubs orphaned by those collisions survived in the park.
"The CP Railway has stepped up along side Parks Canada, the Province of Alberta, and many communities in bear country in its announced efforts to help conserve Canada’s grizzly bears," said Pissot. "The bright red engines now will pose less of a threat in the Bow Valley."
Much has been done to protect grizzlies, whose numbers are in decline across much of the bear’s range. Out of concern for bear numbers, Alberta suspended the grizzly hunt until more is known about the population. Parks Canada has re-routed trails, eliminated open garbage dumps, removed poorly-located facilities, and is fencing and constructing wildlife passages along the final section of the Trans-Canada highway being twinned. Communities in BC and Alberta are implementing BearSmart and BearAware programs to reduce human-bear conflicts.
"This is an important and promising step for the CP Railway," Pissot said, "complementing the vacuum truck that has been in service since 1999. We look forward to less grain and fewer collisions over the next few years."
"All Canadians who cherish our national parks and their wildlife should send a note of thanks to the Railway’s CEO, Fred Green," he said.
The announcement can be found here.
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