MEDIA RELEASE

Date: June 30, 2006
From: Bear Matters BC

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION GROUPS UNITE AGAINST ORPHANED GRIZZLY CUBS GOING TO SKI RESORTS IN BC

In Golden, B.C., on June 24, 2006, Boo – A 4.5year old orphaned grizzly made his second escape from Kicking Horse Ski Resort where he has been in captivity since he and his brother where moved there from the sister ski resort of Grouse Mountain in 2003. A similar escape happened in March 2004 at Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver when two juvenile grizzlies broke out of their locked den. There was no fencing to contain them so they were forced up a tree for 2 hours until they were finally tranquilized and put back in their den.

Sometime during April 2004 at Kicking Horse Boo lost his brother, Cari, who died in their den. Cause of death was noted as a twisted intestine. Since that time both resorts no longer lock the winter dens as bears are not true hibernators and need the freedom to move about. In May 2005 a captive alpha wolf was killed by a captive grizzly at Grouse Mountain when a pack of wolves(previously from the film industry) were put into the grizzly enclosure for a short period.

The wildlife conservation organizations, signatory to this release, view the latest grizzly escape as an alarm that should be heard by government. Rehabilitation needs to be the first and ethical option chosen for orphaned grizzly cubs who are a protected by SARA(Federal Species at Risk Act). They should not be used as entertainment in captive locations that are too small and totally unacceptable for animals that roam hundreds of miles in the wild.

Two B.C. licensed northern bear rehabilitation facilities have the ability to rehabilitate both grizzly and black bear cubs if they are brought in under the age of 1 year. Between these two facilities they have raised and released over 200 black bears successfully. One facility in 1996 rehabbed and released two female grizzlies successfully(Hillspring Wildlife Rehab Centre, Dawson Creek). Since that time, both BC and Alberta governments have discouraged rehabilitation of grizzlies by sending any young rescued grizzly cubs to zoos for entertainment purposes rather than give them a chance at rehabilitation and being wild. As recently as one month ago another orphaned grizzly cub ‘Kira’ from Alberta appeared in a Kamloops zoo, sentenced to a life in captivity rather than being placed into an available rehabilitation facility. It is still not too late to help this cub.

In May 2005 a captive alpha wolf was killed by a captive grizzly at Grouse Mountain when a pack of wolves(previously from the film industry) were put into the grizzly enclosure for a short period. Currently, Boo’s story is drawing more visitors to the resort than ever before for all the wrong reasons and putting the authorities in a very difficult position.

We, the undersigned, strongly request that the BC Government Conservation Officer Service review Boo’s return to captivity since he is no longer a candidate to go to a rehabilitation facility. Relocation to a remote northern wilderness area, far from humans, along with effective aversive conditioning would be the kindest response to his obvious call for freedom.

List of Signatories:

Zoocheck Canada: Julie Woodyer julie@zoocheck.com # 416-451-5976

International Fund for Animal Welfare: Kim Elmslie KElmslie@ifaw.org # 888-500-4329

Valhalla Wilderness Society: Wayne McCrory waynem@vws.org # 250-358-7796

Bear Matters BC: Barbara Murray info@bearmatters.com # 604-924-0807/604-377-9069

Wildsight : Ellen Zimmerman ellen@wildsight.ca #250-348-2225

Fur-Bearers: George V. Clements info@banlegholdtraps.com #604- 435-1850

Animal Advocates Society of BC: Judy Stone animaladvocates@telus.net #604-984-8826

World Society for Protection of Animals: Pat Tohill tohill@wspa.ca (not available by tele at this time)