Battle of bearskin busbies sends fur flying in Britain

CanWest News Service
Published: Friday, April 28, 2006

By Randy Boswell

Confusion in the British parliament over the colour of Canada's bears is adding a bizarre twist to the long-running controversy over the famous "busby" hats worn by Buckingham Palace guards.

For years, animal rights activists have pressured the British army to stop using real bearskins for the ceremonial headgear favoured by several of its regiments -- most notably by the stone-faced royal guardsmen who rank with Big Ben and double-decker buses as London tourism icons.

Canadian actress Pamela Anderson and other celebrities have led protests by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to convince the army to use synthetic alternatives rather than genuine pelts. PETA demonstrators dressed in bear costumes attend nearly all public appearances by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles -- even during royal visits abroad -- to protest the "slaughter" of black bears in Canada and promote the use of fake fur.

Military officials have acknowledged public concern about the hats and are testing faux-fur replacements, but so far the Ministry of Defence has rejected all synthetic substitutes as inferior in wet weather and other adverse conditions.

In the latest round of debate, a group in the House of Commons led by Labour MP Chris Mullin introduced a motion last month insisting that "the bearskin hats have no military significance and involve unnecessary cruelty," and urging the government "to end their use and substitute hats made from fake fur."

But an equally controversial counter-motion was filed by Conservative MPs.

"The bearskin hats worn by the five Regiments of Footguards plays an important part in highlighting the regiments' glorious military traditions and service to the Sovereign throughout the centuries," says the motion, introduced by Lancaster MP Ben Wallace.

It goes on to state that alternatives have proven unreliable compared with the authentic bearskin hats, and that the "pelts used for them are sourced from a necessary cull of Canadian bears carried out by the indigenous Inuit people every year."

Wallace described the stance as a classic example of "compassionate Conservatism," and told the Guardian newspaper that "we want to allow indigenous people to continue in their way of life, instead of forcing them into the cities."

PETA quickly pounced on the Tories, releasing a letter ridiculing their motion, and noting that the Inuit -- who inhabit Arctic ecosystems and traditionally hunt polar bears -- "are as likely to hunt Santa's elves as they are to hunt black bears.

"The slaughter of black bears only benefits hunters who kill them for 'fun,' not Inuit who are trying to preserve a native way of life."

Wallace could not be reached Thursday, but Anita Singh, a Canadian-born campaigner with the British branch of PETA, told CanWest News Service that the Tory MPs have been "digging in their heels" on the Inuit issue, and her organization is still waiting for a response to its letter.

Stephen Hendrie, communications director with the Ottawa-based Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the main national organization representing the Inuit in Canada, said of the Conservative motion: "It's an incorrect statement. Inuit hunt polar bears."
The Ministry of Defence in Britain has stated in the past that bearskins for its regiments' hats are supplied by licensed hunters and wildlife officials in Canada as part of regular black bear population control policies.

- - -

THE BEAR ESSENTIALS

Ursus Americanus (Black Bear):

- Black bears are found in forest habitats throughout Canada and in several parts of the U.S., and eat small mammals, insects and berries.

- They typically reach 1.5 metres in length and weigh about 135 kilograms, although some have been known to reach 290 kg.

- Black bears have black or dark brown fur, although rare white-coated albino black bears, also known as Kermodes, are found in B.C.

Ursus Maritimus (Polar Bear):

- Polar bears are found in Arctic habitats of Northern Canada and Alaska, and primarily eat ringed seals.

- They typically reach 2.5 metres in length and weigh about 500 kg, although some have been known to reach 800 kg.

- Polar bears have white fur shading toward cream or yellow.