This thread is for general discussion and news items relating to Grizzly, Black and Brown Bears

The "Sport" That Should Be Banned

Growing international network calls on B.C. to end the "Sport" that government does not want people to know about -- the trophy hunt of bears in the Great Bear Rainforest.
For Immediate Release - Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Vancouver B.C. - In less than two months, the B.C. government plans to open the trophy hunt of bears in the internationally celebrated Great Bear Rainforest. Trophy hunters will be allowed to gun down vulnerable grizzlies and black bears as they emerge from hibernation.

A growing international network consisting of First Nations, conservation, animal protection and tourism groups -- representing more than 15 million members and constituents from over 40 countries -- is calling on the government to ban the trophy hunt for ethical, cultural, conservation and economic reasons.

"This is not a sport, it is a senseless slaughter," said Art Sterritt, Executive Director of Coastal First Nations. "The trophy hunt goes against every moral teaching that we carry and is disrespectful to our culture and values."

"When one looks at the diversity of groups calling for action, from First Nations and wildlife viewing businesses to some of the world's leading conservation and animal welfare organisations, it is clear that the time has come to end this anachronistic blood sport." said Ian McAllister, Executive Director of BC-based Pacific Wild. "With the 2010 Olympic games in town, the eyes of the world are on BC's environmental practices, and this trophy hunt is tarnishing our reputation."

"The international condemnation of this trophy hunt will continue to build until the bears in the Great Bear Rainforest are protected," said Rebecca Aldworth, Executive Director of Humane Society International/Canada. "British Columbia residents and the world community stand united in their opposition to the cruel and needless trophy hunting of bears."

"British Columbia should be celebrating our wildlife heritage, not killing it for sport or for a senseless trophy," said Dean Wyatt, owner of Knight Inlet Lodge and a Director of the Commercial Bear Viewing Association. “Our businesses depend on healthy bear populations and a positive international reputation."

For More Information:

Pacific Wild

~Rebecca Aldworth, Executive Director, Humane Society International/Canada phone: (514)575-6797 raldworth@humanesociety.org

~Ian McAllister, Executive Director, Pacific Wild phone: (250)957-2480 Email: ian@pacificwild.org

~Art Sterritt, Executive Director of Coastal First Nations: phone: (604)868-9110

~Dean Wyatt, Coastal Bear Viewing Association, phone (250)203-0353

Background:
- The Great Bear Rainforest, located on the BC central and north coast, contains the largest tracts of intact old growth temperate rainforest on earth.
- Each spring and fall season, the government of British Columbia allows trophy hunters, both local and foreign, to kill bears in the Great Bear Rainforest.
- A 2009 Ipsos Reid poll shows that 79 percent of British Columbians oppose the trophy hunting of bears.
- Of the 430 grizzlies killed in 2007 in BC, 87 percent were killed by trophy hunters. Approximately 300 BC grizzly bears are killed annually.
- Bear viewing is far more lucrative than bear hunting in BC. One bear viewing lodge in Knight inlet alone generates more revenue than the entire combined grizzly bear hunting industry.


Signatories of ad campaign:
Pacific Wild
Humane Society International/Canada
Humane Society of the United States
Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust
Coastal First Nations
Greenpeace
Sierra Club BC
Western Canada Wilderness Committee
David Suzuki Foundation
The Spirit Bear Youth Coalition
Valhalla Wilderness Society
Bears Matter
Forest Ethics
Animal Rights Sweden
Freedom for Animals - Croatia
Brigitte Bardot Foundation - France
Franz Weber Foundation - Switzerland
Global Action in the Interest of Animals (GAIA) - Belgium
Fundación para la Adopción, Apadrinamiento y Defensa de los Animales (FAADA) - Spain
Four Paws (International)
Respect for Animals - UK
Commercial Bear Viewing Association of British Columbia
Robin Wood
Canopy

This was posted by AP today and I've decided to add it here for some discussion. It is certainly unfortunate that this woman chose to put her hand into a bear's cage!!!! I think it imperative to remember that black bears can indeed be unpredictable. I am curious to see if Lynn will address this latest incident in his daily writings......

josephine

Woman bitten by bear at Wis. zoo, fingers severed
March 7th, 2010 •
Filed Under: North America

The Associated Press

MANITOWOC, Wis. (AP) — Police say a bear bit off a woman’s fingers at a Wisconsin zoo after she ignored barriers and warning signs to try to feed the animal.

The Lincoln Park Zoo in Manitowoc closed after the incident Friday morning. Police say the 47-year-old woman lost a thumb and a forefinger, and two other fingers were partially severed.

The woman’s boyfriend was bitten as he tried to pry the bear’s mouth off her hand, but he didn’t lose any fingers. Her 3-year-old granddaughter wasn’t injured.

A mayor’s office statement says alcohol played a factor.

It’s unclear which of two Asiatic black bears bit the women when she put her hand through their enclosure’s fence. Police tell the Herald Times Reporter the bears likely won’t be euthanized.

Manitowoc is about 80 miles north of Milwaukee.

last minute notice, Casey Anderson is on GMA (ABC morning show) right now.... apparently National Geographic is starting a "Expedition WILD" series next week, The headline is about wild animals and they noted NOT lke another bear in the news currently tha is being trained...... (clear to me it is reference to another program being promoted about black bears!)

my point here is that there is a kermode bear on the program now. I ll look later to see if there's a video clip............

my mistake...KODIAK bear, not kermode. will move this later.. but perhaps some can tune in on the wet coast when it airs there.


eta.... there is a video, look under Thurs, bear paradise, and you can see the cub http://abcnews.go.com/gma

Some months ago on french T.V. I saw a documentary about reintroduction of bear cubs into the wild by a man called Charlie Russell with Maureen Enns
The story is here;
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes ... bear/3031/
I do not know yet if the film/docu. can be found on the internet. I do know that they published a book on their experience which lasted 3-4 years in the wilds of Russia.
It was a very moving and instructive documentary.
If there is an update,I will try to find it.

I have found an update on Charlie Russell;

http://cloudline.org/

Quote by: macdoum

I have found an update on Charlie Russell;

http://cloudline.org/

thanks for this!!! will look him up!!

One of my friends recently was attacked by a bear and suffered multiple bites and scratches. I wasnt there but his friends were in shock and didnt know what to do. By the time he got to the hospital he lots a significant sum of blood. He came close to dying. So me and my friends all took a wilderness first aid course. Very helpful and learnt quite a lot plus they give you a first aid kit after you complete the course(s). Now we will know what to do in the case of an emergency. The couse we took was with Slipstream First Aid. www.wildernessfirstaid.ca I strongly recommend it to hikers, campers, and anyone pretty much. Its not just wildness first aid. CPR and all first aid alike.