What does it take to reunite a newborn muskox with its herd?
A drone, some snowmobiles and the combined efforts of a number of individuals and agencies pulling together to SA国际影视传媒渄o the right thing,SA国际影视传媒� apparently.
That, according to De Beers Canada spokesperson Tom Ormsby, is what went into the recent reunification of a baby muskox SA国际影视传媒� found alone and adorably defenceless at the company's Gahcho Ku茅 mine site on May 5 SA国际影视传媒� with its family.
photo courtesy of De Beers Canada
Workers at the diamond mine, located 280 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, made the surprise discovery of the helpless newborn while doing maintenance work on a water line, Ormsby told Yellowknifer.
The newborn animal's umbilical cord was still intact and it was no bigger than a small dog, he said.
As reported last week by CKLB, the employees immediately contacted the mineSA国际影视传媒檚 environmental unit, which then reached out to the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR). But the discovery, made on a Sunday, meant no one from the department could advise the unit on what to do next.
The team, forced to abandon its reunification efforts until the next day, used a drone to locate a small herd of muskox, including adults and young calves, a few kilometres away from where the newborn was found.
On May 6, under the guidance of ENR, De BeersSA国际影视传媒� environmental team bundled up the baby muskox, placed it on a snow machine and brought it to the herd, which had travelled some 10 kilometres from its original location.
The team was advised to place the muskox near the herd before backing away.
The first reunification attempt didnSA国际影视传媒檛 go so well.
After leaving the baby muskox about 25 metres away from the other animals in the hopes of sparking a joyous family reunion, the herd SA国际影视传媒渟howed no response,SA国际影视传媒� and the calf started walking back to the team members, said Ormsby.
The second attempt also proved unsuccessful but on the third effort SA国际影视传媒渋t all worked out,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the adults moved towards the calf SA国际影视传媒� and nuzzled up against the calf and started licking it,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
At that moment, the team knew the lost newborn had been accepted back into the herd.
photo courtesy of De Beers Canada
SA国际影视传媒淭hey were all really excited,SA国际影视传媒� said Ormsby of the employees, who saw their efforts pay off with a SA国际影视传媒渉appy ending.SA国际影视传媒�
A happy ending, he said, that was made possible through proper training, quick thinking and the concerted efforts of all those involved.
SA国际影视传媒淩euniting a calf with a herd is something ISA国际影视传媒檓 pretty sure we never practised,SA国际影视传媒� said Ormsby. SA国际影视传媒淏ut to be able to get that coordinated, have everybody in the loop, everyone aligned on what to do SA国际影视传媒� thatSA国际影视传媒檚 really important."
Workers often log sightings of wildlife near the mine, but to have an encounter that close to the site is rare, added Ormsby. Despite the unusual scenario, he said, the workers who made the initial discovery knew exactly what to do.
SA国际影视传媒淭heir first reaction was 'letSA国际影视传媒檚 get the right people here to make this work,' so that was terrific,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
photo courtesy of De Beers Canada
The employeesSA国际影视传媒� desire to help the muskox shows a they have SA国际影视传媒渞espect for the land,SA国际影视传媒� he added.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey get it,SA国际影视传媒� said Ormsby.
SA国际影视传媒淲e know we are guests on the land," he said. "We know we need to get guidance from those who have the authority to permit the mine and let us run a mine."
