By: Sukh Toor
The Beaver has competition as the Calgary Zoo wants you to vote for the greatest Canadian animal.
Trish Exton-Parder, lead media relations person at Calgary Zoo, said the competition is to get Canadians to learn more about wildlife and to challenge’s the supremacy of Canada’s national symbol.
Vying to usurp the tree-toppling rodent include the Grizzly bear, the Grey wolf, the Whooping Crane, the Bison, the Rocky Mountain goat, the Great Grey Owl, and, of course, the Beaver.
“What a better time than Canada’s 150th anniversary,” Exton-Parder said. “It’s a fun way to get people to care.”
The zoo is using the vote to get people research and visit the animals before making their decisions.
All six candidates were picked especially so Canadians can visit the species at the zoo and learn more about protecting them.
“We need to be concerned about grizzly bears in certain parts,” Exton-Parder said.
Humber News went to the halls of Humber College to see who the students would vote for.
Tyrell Davidson, a 19 year-old heating, refrigeration and air conditioning technology student, said he wants the zoo add the moose as a candidate.
“Most of those animals, other than the Grizzly bear, I don’t even know really know them,” he said. “I’d have to say the beaver, it seems like the trademark Canadian animal.”
The wolf would be a great choice as wolves tend to represent strength and unity, said Humber business administration and accounting student Rawinder Singh. But he’s happy with the Beaver staying as the country’s top animal
“I would stick to the Beaver, it’s been there for quiet some time,” the 21-year-old said. “Honestly, when I think of Canada I think of Beavers.”
In first place right now is the Grey wolf and the Whooping Crane is wallowing in last. Voting ends May 19.
Cast your votes at www.calgaryzoo.com/greatestanimal/.