The Yukon government has imposed a moratorium on any further imports of elk and other game farm animals.

The announcement was made late last Friday.

Environment Yukon spokeswoman Nancy Campbell said today notification of the decision, made by the cabinet, was sent to the territory's farming community, the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board, the Yukon Fish and Game Association and other stakeholders.

"We recognize the growing public concern about the risk to wildlife posed by the import of game farm animals from areas where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been present," says Friday's notification signed by Environment Yukon deputy minister Kelvin Leary

"We also want to deal proactively with the threat of other diseases or parasites since it is much less expensive and much easier to keep elk, deer and other ruminant populations disease-free than to attempt eradication."

The notice comes as a cloud of uncertainty has blown over game farmer Bill Drury and his Circle D Ranch following the recent import of 11 elk from Alberta, one of which died after arriving here.

Drury is confident the animal died of stress related to travel, and not of any disease. (See story above.)

Campbell said she was unable to say whether the decision to issue the moratorium was in any way influenced by the recent situation at the Circle D Ranch.

There was a significant show of concern earlier this spring when it was learned Drury imported eight elk a year ago, in the spring of 2008.

Worries centred around the widespread existence of the deadly chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the Prairie provinces, and the difficulty of preventing the transmission of CWD. There are no tests to detect the disease in live animals, it was

emphasized.

Solid opposition to the transport of game farm animals in the country focuses on the argument that the greatest carriers of CWD are transport trucks moving infected animals thought to be healthy.

Last Friday's announcement indicated the moratorium on importing elk, bison and musk-ox will remain in place until the new Animal Health Program is estalished.

Once that has occurred, the issue of importing game farm animals can be revisited, says last Friday's letter.

The Yukon government announced the Animal Health Program this past winter as an initiative to essentially establish a public health office for animals, and to hire staff and a veterinarian, similar to the Yukon's medical health officer.

"This ban will not affect the import of horses, cattle and other domestic animals," says the letter.

"It is important, however, for all Yukoners to ensure that any animals they import are thoroughly examined by a veterinarian prior to shipment and found healthy."

The letter also states the moratorium should have minimal impact, as the import of game farm animals is very small in the Yukon.

Last year's import of eight elk by Drury, for instance, was the first such import in 10 years.