Press Release-posted on www.bearmatters.com

June 15, 2006

Northern Lights Wildlife Rehabilitation Society –Smithers, BC

Orphan 4 1/2mos old Black Bear Cub

‘Kira’ found wandering by a road 1 1/2hrs outside of Kamloops

Kira was sighted outside Kamloops and after a couple of days picked up by a member of the public after no mother bear responded to the cub’s cries. Kira was extremely underweight but otherwise in good condition having been born in February this year.

A legal spring bear hunt ends TODAY in most regions in BC and will reopen again in Sept. Spring bear hunting can result in mothers being shot leaving tiny cubs high up in trees to fend for themselves at too young an age. In 2001 Ontario cancelled the Spring Bear Hunt for humane reasons.

Angelika said yesterday “I could not believe it but EVERYBODY came through. The gov’t Wildlife fellow stayed after work and gave me his home number if I needed him again. The gov’t wildlife vet examined the cub after hours. The people that rescued the cub drove her in from 1 1/2 hours away. The vet is taking her to the airlines at 6 am tomorrow and she will arrive at 11am in Smithers. The airlines is transporting the cub free of charge.” So today now Kira has a home until next Spring when she will be released back into the Kamloops region away from people. The likelihood of her ever coming near people once put into a wilderness region is the same as a wild bear-very unlikely. She will join at least 5 other cubs at shelter.

Northern Lights Wildlife Rehab Centre receives no government funding and has only been a non-profit society for 3 years though has saved hundred of animals, including bears, deer, moose, cougar, wolves, birds etc… over the last 15yrs.

More Photos and video available on request

Contact: Angelika and Peter Langen:
1-250-847-5101 or 1-250-877-1181cell
Website: www.wildlifeshelter.com

NLWRS Smithers, B.C.

Vancouver Contact: Barbara Murray of Bear Matters BC www.bearmatters.com

604-924-0807/604-377-9069cell