For Immediate Release February 3, 2006
Bear Cub Advocates Make an Offer the Government Cannot Refuse
Media Conference Scheduled for 11am today
Controversy has been growing over the past month in British Columbia due to the Liberal government’s reluctance to assist two orphaned grizzly bear cubs in entering the only wildlife rehabilitation centre in Canada currently able to take them.
Animal protection groups have joined forces with grizzly bear scientists and rehabilitation experts in an attempt to convince the government to help the bears. After more than 200 letters and e-mails from residents in BC, across Canada and around the world, were sent to Premier Campbell and Minister Penner’s offices, the Premier finally asked Minister Penner to address the issue.
Zoocheck Canada, the national wildlife protection charity that has been leading the campaign to save the bears sent Campaigns Director, Julie Woodyer to BC for the meeting with clear instructions to escalate the campaign for the bears if the BC Liberals continue to stall on helping the cubs.
On Tuesday January 31st, Woodyer was joined by representatives from Vancouver Humane Society, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Northern Lights Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and international bear rehabilitation expert, Dr. John Beecham in a meeting with the Ministerial Assistant to Environment Minister Penner and other BC officials to discuss the merits of allowing two orphaned grizzly bear cubs to enter a BC rehabilitation centre. The meeting lasted nearly two hours and resulted in Woodyer making a new request of the Minister to keep the bears from suffering further in their current circumstances.
The details of the meeting and a resulting offer will be revealed today at a media conference at the SFU Habour Centre, Room 1410, Segal, 515 W Hastings S (at Richards St.) at 11 am.
For more information contact:
Julie Woodyer, Zoocheck Canada Cell: 416-451-5976
Bruce Passmore, Vancouver Humane Society Office: 604-266-9744 Cell: 604-603-5401
For more information on how people can help the Banff and Koda, visit www.zoocheck.com