Where to Rewild, and How? (Updated)

Now that the species important to Pleistocene rewilding in Canada have been discussed, it is important to discuss areas where these projects should be undertaken. At least in the beginning, it is my opinion that at least two should be opened up, for slightly different reasons. 

The Stretch  

This is a placeholder name for the area of Canada that was not covered by ice during the last glacial maximum. It describes the area going from southern Alaska, stretching through the Yukon and down to the southern prairie provinces. It is in this area that (at least at first) rewilding projects would start. There are two areas that would allow for maximum megafauna biodiversity in which founder populations of many animals can be used to later create other large "Rewilding Parks", which would be huge fenced in areas. The first location would be set in the far north to replicate the flora and fauna of the Mammoth steppe. The second would be placed in the south to replicate the ecology of the Pleistocene grasslands.  

The North 

The first northern area would be placed in northeastern Yukon, on the border of the NWT, and be (eventually) as large as five thousand square kilometers. It would encompass forest, mountain, and plains environments. The main importance of this reserve is to set up a similar endeavor to what is being done in the "Pleistocene Park" in northern Siberia, run by Dr. Sergey Zimov. The idea behind that park is that by using large herds of herbivores, the insulation layer covering the permafrost can be controlled, when the animals excavate snow while searching for grass. Browsing herbivores will also control the massive amounts of trees and lichens and allow for the proliferation of grasses which reflect sunlight much better than trees and snow, cooling the permafrost further. This will help to stave off the melting of the permafrost threatened by global warming. Herbivores will also in some part mitigate the nutrient lock of the arctic, wherein plants will not decompose due to the cold temperatures and consequent lack of insects and bacteria. Herbivores will digest these plants and create fertilizer, returning nutrients to the soil.  

The South 

This park will benefit the ecology of the area, but the primary purpose of this park is financial. By creating a more southerly and accessible park, perhaps in the southwestern Alberta area, awareness of rewilding can be raised, hopefully raising support and money for rewilding efforts across the country. Also, large numbers of megafauna could be born here for transfer to the northern reserve, as well as other reserves created later. It would be, in a very real sense, a Canadian Safari park with similar large animal diversity and density to the African Serengeti. 

Subsequent parks could be created anywhere along the stretch, but the two original parks will contain the following arrangement of megafauna. Some (primary) animals will have priority for introduction and proliferation based on their relevance to the area. Others (secondary) will be introduced only after the others have been established, if at all.

Northern Reserves Primary (Important) Megafauna 

Moose (Alces alces gigas)- Present 

Bison (Bison bison athabascae)- Reintroduction 

Camel (Camelus ferus ferus)- Proxy – Western Camel (Camelops hesternus) 

Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti/nelsoni)- Reintroduction 

Horse (Equus ferus cabalus/przewalski)- Proxy – Yukon Horse (Equus lambei) 
Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus)- Range Expansion  

Muskox (Ovibos moschatus moschatus)- Reintroduction 

Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli dalli)- Present 

Caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti/groenlandicus)- Present 

Saiga (Saiga tatarica/mongolica)- Reintroduction

Grey Wolf (Canis lupus pamabasileus/arctos)- Present 
Cougar (Puma concolor cougar)- Range Expansion 

Black Bear (Ursus americanus americanus)- Present 

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)- Present 

Northern Reserves Secondary (More Optional) Megafauna 

Takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetena)- Woodox (Bootherium bombifrons) 

Kiang (Equus kiang kiang/holdereri)- Proxy – Vera's Horse (Equus verae) 
Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus americanus) - Range Expansion 
Boar (Sus scrofa sibericus)- Proxy – Flatheaded Peccary (Platygonus compressus) 

Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)- Proxy – Scimitar Cat (Homotherium serum) (Tiger may actually have been present in the Yukon and Alaska during Pleistocene)

Lion (Panthera leo persica)- Proxy – Cave Lion (Panthera leo spelaea) 

Southern Reserves Primary (Important) Megafauna 

Moose (Alces alces andersoni/shirosi)- Present 

Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana oregona) - Present 

Bison (Bison bison bison)- Reintroduction 

Camel (Camelus ferus ferus)- Proxy – Western Camel (Camelops hesternus) 

Elk (Cervus canadensis manitobenus/nelsoni)- Present

Horse (Equus ferus cabalus/przewalski)- Proxy – Scott's Horse (Equus scotti)
Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus)- Present   

Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus dakotensis/ochrouris) - Present
Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus americanus) - Present 

Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) - Present 

Grey Wolf (Canis lupus nubilus/irremotus)- Present 
Cougar (Puma concolor cougar)- Present

Black Bear (Ursus americanus americanus)- Present 

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)- Present  

Southern Reserves Secondary (More Optional) Megafauna  

Takin (Budorcas taxicolor whitei)- Proxy – Woodox (Bootherium bombifrons) 

Onager (Equus hemionus hemionus)- Proxy – Mexican Horse (Equus conversidens) 
Guanaco (Lama guanicoe guanicoe)- Proxy – Stilt-legged Llama (Hemiauchenia macrocephala) 

Boar (Sus scrofa nigripes)- Proxy – Flatheaded Peccary (Platygonus compressus)

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus)- Proxy – American Cheetah (Miracinonyx trumani)
Lion (Panthera leo krugeri)- Proxy – American Lion (Panthera leo atrox)