Comment
The slaughter of eagles

Times Colonist
Monday, February 07, 2005

The discovery of more than two dozen eagle carcasses on the edge of the Tsleil-Waututh reserve in North Vancouver has horrified his people, says former chief Leonard George. He says it's blasphemy to suggest that the eagles were killed for their feathers or other parts to be used in ceremonies.

The location of the carcasses and the fact that they were missing feathers and legs is bound to create suspicion of aboriginals. But killing the birds is not necessary to obtain the revered feathers -- they fall out naturally and can be collected easily in eagle-nesting areas.

The fact is, there's a heavy commercial traffic in eagle parts -- feathers, talons, beaks. Provincial environmental enforcement officials said in 1999 that poaching the birds is a concern on Vancouver Island.

Poaching for animal parts -- grizzly livers, elephant tusks -- is almost impossible to stop wherever it goes on in the world.

In B.C. our enforcement officers are too thin on the ground, and must rely on members of wildlife organizations and other citizens to keep an eye out for poachers.

The maximum fine they could get if they're caught is $50,000 per bird. We expect the courts to impose it.