Kosciuszko National Park is seen in this undated handout photo. The Canberra Times reports that an air search for Prabhdeep Srawn is focusing on a specific location within the Kosciuszko National Park, about 350 kilometres southwest of Sydney. Srawn, a 25-year-old Brampton, Ont., man hasn't been heard from since parking his rental car May 13 in the village of Charlotte Pass.Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters/Facebook/The Canadian Press
Canada is asking Australian police not to scale back the search for a Canadian hiker missing for more than two weeks in the Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales.
Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State for Consular Affairs, said Tuesday that she has spoken with Australia's high commissioner to Canada and requested that the search for Prabhdeep Srawn not be reduced at this time.
A spokesman for Ms. Ablonczy said the federal government is still waiting for a response from Australian officials.
Police in New South Wales could not be reached for comment on the request.
Australian authorities announced Tuesday that they would be scaling back the search even as Mr. Srawn's family and friends pleaded for an expanded search for the 25-year-old hiker from Brampton, Ont.
Tej Sahota, whose wife is Mr. Srawn's cousin, said the police search would only go on for another two days, with 21 people rather than the 28 previously searching.
"Today and tomorrow will be their final two days of search, and if they don't locate him at that point they are going to call it off," Mr. Sahota said in an interview from Cleveland, Ohio.
Ms. Ablonczy said Canada is actively working with Australian authorities to discuss the search mission and to convey the family's concerns.
"Our engagement at all levels will continue. We join Canadians in praying for his safe return," she said in a release.
A Canadian military reservist, Mr. Srawn was last seen May 13 when he drove to a village in the park where he intended to go for a walk.
A search operation only began on May 20 when it was discovered he was missing.
Authorities in New South Wales said they had decided to scale down the operation after consulting medical experts and examining the conditions and weather forecasts for the area.
They also said that despite eight days of searching, emergency services have not been able to locate any sign of Mr. Srawn.
Superintendent Shane Box, a local area commander, said he and other senior officers have been in constant contact with Mr. Srawn's family and the decision was not made lightly.
"Today I spoke with Mr. Srawn's family and made the tough decision to scale back the search," he said.
But Mr. Sahota said the family still holds out hope that Mr. Srawn is alive and already has offered a $15,000 reward for private hikers who may be able to help find him. They also plan to hire private search-and-rescue teams to continue looking for Mr. Srawn if necessary, he said.
Mr. Sahota added Mr. Srawn has hiking experience and is equipped to handle the weather. The trail in that area is fairly wide and there are some restrooms and even cabins in some places, he said.
"He's resourceful," Mr. Sahota said. "There's bugs to eat there. I've been reading that there are caterpillars and beetles and stuff like that that would be at that area of the mountain, so I'm sure he's got a good chance of surviving with food and water. There's fresh running water around the area too."
Mr. Srawn's family had earlier complained that the number of searchers being employed was far too small to cover the 7,000 square kilometres.
But police said they have conducted extensive searches over some of the hardest and most remote and unforgiving terrain in freezing temperatures.
Police also said they have concerns for the welfare of anyone planning to conduct their own search.
"I know this is an emotional time and people want to do everything they can to find Prabhdeep," said Supt. Box. "[But] the weather forecast for the next few days is unfavourable with conditions expected to deteriorate rapidly."