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Share FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The "Sport" That Should Be Banned |
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Growing International Network Calls on B.C. Government to End the "Sport" That it Does Not Want people to Know About -- The Trophy Hunt of Bears in the Great Bear Rainforest. 
VANCOUVER, BC, February 16, 2010, --/WORLD-WIRE/-- 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. ÒOur businesses depend on healthy bear populations and a positive international reputation." For More Information: 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 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: For ad download go to: www.pacificwild.org 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 Fundacion para la Adopcion, 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 |
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