By RENATO GANDIA, SUN MEDIA

Oil and gas development in western Alberta is endangering caribou and wolves, protesters alleged yesterday at a rally in front of the Alberta Sustainable Resource and Development office.

About 20 people armed with placards and leaflets demanded the province impose a moratorium on energy development in the Little Smoky area, where a habitat of caribou is endangered.

Two years ago, the province struck a committee to look into how to protect wildlife habitats in the area.

Yesterday, the group met for the 27th time, but it's still without a final recommendation on what to do.

"So far we've made no progress at all," said Helene Walsh, who represents the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Association on the committee.

The protesters also demanded the government stop culling of wolves in the area, about 280 km west of Edmonton.

Wolves prey on caribou; that's why the province allowed culling, said David Ealey, a spokesman for Sustainable Resource and Development.

There has been less disturbance of habitats since the province implemented its integrated land management approach, Ealey said, adding new road construction for any exploration and development in the area has been significantly reduced by 45%.

"It means there's much less habitats being disturbed," Ealey said.

But that's not enough for the environmentalists. They want a moratorium.

The issue is much more complicated than stopping development, Ealey said. "Our objective is to work with industry to find solutions rather than summarily stopping things," he said