Robert G. White Large Animal Research Station - UAF - Fairbanks, AK
Posted by: condor1
N 64° 52.680 W 147° 51.970
6W E 458969 N 7195138
Locally known as L.A.R.S for Large Animal Research Station this station is a must see when visiting Fairbanks or UAF (University of Alaska - Fairbanks)
Waymark Code: WMHAMR
Location: Alaska, United States
Date Posted: 06/16/2013
Views: 6
Coords will put you in the parking lot of the Research Station.
The Large Animal Research Station, or LARS, was created in 1979 with a major grant from the National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs. The intent was to establish a colony of muskoxen that would be available for nutritional, physiological and behavioral research, and to provide a location close to the university where research could take place on large, wild
ungulates in captivity.
Now you ask what
Ungulates are - well here is a little description - the station’s purpose is to conduct research on large ungulates, which are hoofed, cud-chewing mammals such as moose, muskoxen, caribou and domestic reindeer.
(Now You Know)
In April 1980, 16 muskoxen captured on Nunivak Island were taken to the station after a one-year quarantine. Reindeer, moose and caribou colonies were established within three years, though the moose were subsequently moved to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Moose Research Center in Soldotna, Alaska.
Current animal colonies consist of muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus), caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) and domestic reindeer (R.t. tarandus). Most of the animals are tame and are therefore useful in nutrition, metabolic, physiological and behavioral studies. In 2012, colony size was approximately 60 caribou/reindeer and 30 muskoxen.
LARS is located on a former homestead established by Mike Yankovich, who donated the property to UAF on October 12, 1963 for the purpose of conducting muskox research. The site comprises 134 acres (approximately 50% pasture, 50% boreal forest), with a centralized handling facility, equipment for large animal restraint, a laboratory, a metabolic research building, state of the art classroom, feed and bedding storage units, offices and living quarters. The facility is licensed for radio-tracer studies and is inspected for approval of animal research under federal and state authorities.
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