You are probably looking
at the cutest endangered species on earth.
This little chocolate coloured ball of fur
is a marmotte of the Vancouver island.
One among the last hundred
that remains to perpetuate the species.
Yes, you heard what I said,
it only remains a hundred of them.
For centuries,
they have lived without our help.
1500 m above sea level,
in the alpine meadows of this northern pacific island,
until we found out that they are endangered.
It was high time.
But not all hope are lost,
thanks to the great effort of biologist Andrew Briant,
most probably, the very recognizable whistle of this little rodent,
keep on echoing in these splendid mountains,
still for a very long time.
"CHAPIONS OF NATURE"
"THE MARMOTTE"
In the far west of Canada,
the sun rises in this day of early spring,
on the pastures of the moutains of Vancouver Island.
As winter snow disapears,
animals of these meadows wake up from a long winter sleep.
After seven months of hibernation,
the marmottes rush on a breakfast
- a breakfast
- a   b r e a k f a s t...
- they waited for a looooong time.
Sleeping, eating,
then sleeping - then eating
and sleeping again !
For thousands of years,
this is the very simple program
of this adorable little piece of rodent...
Nonetheless, 'Marmotta Vancouveransis'
- Vancouver island marmotte -
is nowadays endangered.
This is where the Vancouver island marmot lives -
It is likely by chance that I came to study marmots.
Actually, I started studying grizzlies.
It is much more simple to capture and handle them alone [the marmots].
Besides, they are much less frightening when they charge.
Obviously, they have nothing to do with grizzlies.
But without help, they are endangered.
It remains so few of them that they are all numberred, and baptised.
Here is Merly.
They really are adorable.
But what is really amazing to me is where they live !
It's lovely weather today.
It's nice being outside.
But the marmots are here whatever the weather.
Whether it's raining or whether it's raining.
They hibernated during seven months under 5 to 7 m of snow.
Their physiology is absolutely fascinating.
'Amazing story...'
There are 14 different species of marmots in the northern hemisphere.
In the mountains of Europe,
a popular place for hunting -
- they had been exterminated in certain regions.
And then bred in captivity to be reintroduced in the wild.
In North America,
there are 6 different species.
All of them live high above sea level and in a  -
[Breathing intensifies]
Mountains of Alaska -
All marmots live in a really rough environment.
For most species,
that does not prevent them from being numerous.
Bu that is absolutely NOT the case of the Vancouver island marmot.
Last year, we counted 62 of them.
We may then suppose that there are 70 or 80 of them.
We put 19 of them in captivity.
Which means that even if they all survive winter...
For a couple of years,
something prevents the youngsters
to reach their destination.
A problem that with no doubt,
has something to do with this.
