Dear Readers,

This is a story that is unfolding today and will gain more and more attention in the ensuing days ahead. You are going to asked soon to help make a difference to the lives of these orphaned grizzly cubs from Alberta. Both Alberta and Fed Gov't say Yes to rehabbing the bears in Northern BC but all of a sudden BC says No to bear rehab. In 1996 two female grizzlies were rehabbed out of Dawson Creek and many, many black bears to date...Premier Campbell supported saving orphaned cubs on the North Shore Dec 2004 and then again supported bear rehab with his generous offer of $400,000 for cubs during his April 2005 election promises...now his government says NO WAY, door is closed?

Please stay tuned and you will be asked to help save these cubs from a life in a cage....Please read the following press release that will be officially released tomorrow.
Thank you,
Barb Murray BC Bear Advocate

January 9, 2006

BC Decision Dooms Grizzly Bear Cubs
No second chance for orphaned cubs Banff and Koda

On Friday, British Columbia officials said no to allowing two orphaned grizzly bear cubs into a BC wildlife rehabilitation program, claiming they are not good candidates for rehabilitation and release. But bear rehabilitation experts and wildlife protection groups say they're wrong and that it's far too soon to abandon the bears to a life of captivity. Both bears are now on public display in an Alberta zoo.

The cubs were orphaned in Alberta in 2005, one in a logging incident and the other when his mother was hit by a train in Banff National Park. Both Parks Canada and Alberta Fish and Wildlife have agreed that rehabilitation is a possibility and have granted permission for the bears to enter a rehabilitation program, but the BC government won't let them travel to the only Canadian facility, located in central BC, able to accommodate them.

“There is no reason to believe that these bears will not respond to rehabilitation or be good candidates for release. Other bears which have been on public display have been rehabilitated and done just fine. The only way we can determine if they are good candidates is to put them into a rehabilitation program as soon as possible and conduct an assessment at the end of the process,” says scientist Dr. John Beecham, a bear rehabilitation expert with 33 years experience. “The level of human habituation of an orphan cub’s mother is not a good predictor of how that cub will respond to humans when he is released back into the wild, if the rehabilitation facility uses proven methods to raise the cub. All of the skills and behaviours that orphan bear cubs need to survive in the wild appear to be innate, not learned, so it is not necessary to teach them what to eat or how to build a winter den."

Julie Woodyer, Campaigns Director for Zoocheck Canada said “Obviously, BC officials are ignoring the abundance of information available on successful grizzly bear rehabilitation. It's short-sighted of them not to give these bears every possible chance to remain in the wild. Given that there is significant evidence that the bears could be rehabilitated, we are urging the BC government to give them a chance at life in the wild.”

Zoocheck Canada has partnered with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to support the rehabilitation of these two cubs. The groups are proposing a protocol developed by Russian scientists that has resulted in the successful rehabilitation and release of more than 100 grizzly bears, including some from zoos. If the bears are releasable at the end of the program, monitoring would then be conducted. IFAW and Zoocheck Canada are funding the program, to ensure no financial burden for B.C. taxpayers.

“Grizzly bears are critically endangered, therefore every individual is important and must remain in the wild. The survival of the species may depend on it” stated Bruce Passmore, Project Coordinator for Vancouver Humane Society “The BC government talks big talk about protecting grizzly bears but when it comes down it, they aren't even willing to allow these two bears a chance to remain in the wild. If Environment Minister Penner does not allow the cubs into the province, it will be an embarrassment to the province given their stated commitment to a grizzly bear recovery plan.”

Zoocheck Canada, Vancouver Humane Society and IFAW are calling on BC Environment Minister Barry Penner to take immediate action to facilitate issuance of a permit that will allow the cubs to enter the province for rehabilitation.

For more information contact:
Julie Woodyer, Zoocheck Canada Office: 1-888-801-3222 Cell: 416-451-5976
Bruce Passmore, Vancouver Humane Society Office: 604-266-9744
Dr. John Beecham Office: (208) 853-1901