For over six decades, the Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI) has been a leader in wildlife rehabilitation, species reintroduction, and conservation education in Alberta. Dedicated to preserving biodiversity, CEI has rescued, rehabilitated, and released over 10,000 injured and orphaned wildlife species, ensuring they return to their natural habitats and continue playing a vital role in local ecosystems.
A pioneer in species recovery efforts, CEI played a key role in reintroducing the Swift Fox to Canada, successfully breeding and releasing over 1,000 individuals, including 200 on Blackfoot Confederacy lands. Their impact extends to other species, such as the Trumpeter Swan and Wood Bison, supporting Alberta’s natural heritage through reintroduction and habitat restoration programs.
Beyond rehabilitation, CEI is an educational and research hub, engaging communities through school programs, public workshops, and their annual conservation symposium. Their bat population monitoring program provides critical data to help protect vulnerable species affected by climate change, while their wildlife hotline educates the public on sustainable human-wildlife coexistence.
