British Columbia Wildlife Park, Wildlife conservation park in Kamloops, Canada
The British Columbia Wildlife Park is a zoo and wildlife facility in Kamloops, Canada, set on rolling terrain and home to animals native to the region. Paths connect a series of enclosures spread across the grounds, giving visitors a chance to observe the animals at close range.
In February 1965 John Moelaert proposed a zoological park to the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Kamloops Zoological Society formed that April. After a membership drive, Molson Breweries donated 106 acres of an unused hops farm about 16 km east of Kamloops. Local architects, surveyors and tradespeople offered free services and materials to help the society secure the land.
Many of the animals here come from British Columbia and are species that local people encounter in their everyday surroundings. Walking through the grounds gives a sense of how closely tied these creatures are to the region they come from.
The grounds are easy to walk through and the park is straightforward to reach from central Kamloops. Paths cross uneven terrain, so solid footwear and clothing suited to the season will make the visit more comfortable.
The park's 106 acres were part of an unused 1,000-acre hops farm owned by Molson Breweries about 10 miles east of Kamloops' boundary. Founder John Moelaert persuaded local architects, surveyors, engineers and tradespeople to donate services and materials, which convinced Molson the project was viable before it donated the land.
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