#Canada #Thompson #Nueltin Lake #caribou slaughter #wildlife vandalism

Urgent Action Needed Against Wildlife Crimes in Canada

In a shocking event that has raised alarms across Northern Canada, an American lodge owner, Nick Scigliano, is calling for immediate government action following a horrific incident on his properties at Nueltin Lake Provincial Park. During a mandated spring wellness check on April 11, he discovered unspeakable devastation: a mass slaughter of caribou, including pregnant females, alongside severe vandalism of his lodge facilities.

Scigliano, who owns two lodge properties within this ecologically diverse park, found his float plane dock and buildings forcibly entered, leaving behind wreckage and even the theft of valuable equipment. The chilling sight at his Treeline Lodge was far worse; dozens of caribou carcasses scattered across the land, the snow stained with their blood. "I couldn’t believe my eyes," he recounted, horrified at the sight of snowmobiles chasing the animals and a makeshift slaughterhouse set up at his lodge.

Fearing for his safety, Scigliano chose not to land and instead retreated to the City of Thompson to report the incidents to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Conservation Services. After formal complaints were lodged, law enforcement accompanied him back to the lodges on April 18 for a thorough investigation. To his dismay, they found the lodges occupied and another brutal caribou killing had been executed in front of his float plane dock.

“The destruction was overwhelming,” Scigliano expressed, describing how cabins were looted, furniture was burned for warmth, and human waste was found inside the buildings. Even more distressing was his feeling of helplessness when law enforcement suggested that little could be done to remedy the situation.

Further inspections revealed similar brutality at his Kasmere Lake Lodge, including parts of an iconic log structure burned for firewood and the remains of many unborn caribou calves. “It’s senseless,” Scigliano lamented, highlighting the wastefulness of their actions as they left dead animals on his doorstep. “These images will haunt me forever.” Scigliano initially envisioned his lodges as eco-tourism and fishing hubs, but this tragedy has cast serious doubt on the future of both his properties and the surrounding park.

He lamented, “Nueltin Lake Provincial Park was once a symbol of conservation and sustainability. It was Canada’s original fishing ‘catch and release’ lake, a pristine wilderness that must not become a lawless zone.” Scigliano’s urgent plea for accountability underscores the necessity for government intervention to restore law and order in this vital ecological area.

The situation at Nueltin Lake reflects a disturbing trend of wildlife crimes and unlawful activities that threaten not just the local ecosystem but also the livelihoods depending on it. Scigliano’s appeal is a rallying cry for those who cherish and advocate for wildlife conservation. “Lawlessness simply cannot be allowed,” he firmly stated, calling out for the public, authorities, and conservationists to join forces to combat such atrocities.

As global attention shifts towards sustainable tourism and wildlife preservation, incidents like these remind us of the heavy responsibility resting on our shoulders. The fate of Nueltin Lake Provincial Park hangs in the balance, calling upon all stakeholders to take a stand against wildlife crimes and protect the treasures of nature for future generations.