10/12/2026
The beginning of October has been a busy time at your Toronto Zoo’s Vancouver Island marmot breeding centre 🐾
On this Thanksgiving edition of , we’re excited to share that sixteen Vancouver Island marmot pups born at your Toronto Zoo have started their transition to life in the wild by departing the Zoo for Vancouver Island.
Their full day of travel began with getting settled in individual travel crates and progressed through multiple modes of transportation: a van ride to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, a flight to Vancouver International Airport, a ferry to Vancouver Island, and (finally) a drive to their final destination: the Tony Barrett Mount Washington Marmot Recovery Centre.
We are happy to report that all sixteen pups (along with one adult female who is meeting a new mate at the recovery centre) made the trip safely!
The pups will spend this winter hibernating at the Recovery Centre. Come spring, they will be released into a protected area on Mount Washington, where they’ll have the opportunity to acclimatize to their native environment and elevation and hone their foraging, digging and predator avoidance skills. After a second hibernation, this time in the wild, some of these marmots may be translocated to other areas of Vancouver Island to help strengthen other wild colonies.
This journey is what being Guardians of Wild is all about 💚
Field conservation is at the heart our commitment to protecting wildlife and wild spaces, especially iconic species right here in Canada. Through conservation breeding, scientific expertise, collaboration and hands-on recovery work in the field, we are working alongside our partners to help species at risk recover and thrive where they belong: in the wild.
The Vancouver Island marmot is found only on Vancouver Island. In 2003, fewer than 30 remained in the wild, making this uniquely Canadian species one of the most endangered mammals in the country.
Did you know? Your Toronto Zoo joined the recovery effort in 1997, and since then 230 Vancouver Island marmots have been born at the Zoo, with the majority going on to be released into the wild. Each pup represents years of collaboration between animal care professionals, conservation scientists and partners working toward a shared goal: rebuilding a healthy, self-sustaining wild population.
And that collective effort is making an impact. During the 2025 field season, the Marmot Recovery Foundation observed 427 Vancouver Island marmots in the wild 🐾
From our conservation breeding centre here in Toronto to the mountains of Vancouver Island, we’re proud to play a role in protecting one of Canada’s most remarkable species, and helping ensure Vancouver Island marmots remain part of Canada’s wild spaces for generations to come.
