Illegal Grizzly Bear Poaching Discovered in Great Bear Rainforest Park
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 12, 2009Bella Bella -- A grizzly bear trophy hunter was found illegally baiting bears Thursday night in the Giltoyees River Conservancy Area on the B.C. north coast.
Captain Eric Boyum, owner of the B.C.-based bear viewing company Ocean Adventures, discovered the incident while guiding a group of international clients in the remote watershed twenty-five kilometres east of the First Nations village of Hartley Bay.
"We were getting settled in for the evening to photograph and watch for bears as they feed on sedges at the water’s edge," stated Mr. Boyum reached by satellite phone on the Douglas Channel "when we discovered the individual with a large sack of bait that was being used to lure the bears into shooting range."
"We have reported the full details of this sickening discovery to the local RCMP in Kitimat."
Under section 33.1 of the B.C. Wildlife Act, it is illegal to use bait when hunting bears.
"We have been receiving reports all season from frustrated bear viewing businesses, along with First Nations and members of the public that are fed up with finding trophy hunters in areas where they believe wildlife are protected." stated Ian McAllister of the conservation group Pacific Wild. "However, this blatant illegal poaching - in a park - is one of the more disturbing."
The B.C. spring bear trophy hunt season closes on June 15th and it is estimated that between 100 and 150 BC grizzly bears have already been killed for sport in 2009. The BC Liberals recently declared 30% of the central and north coast protected but continue to allow trophy hunting of bears in protected areas. Over 80% of the protected areas and parks in British Columbia allow trophy hunting to occur within park boundaries. A coalition of Coastal First Nations, conservation and animal welfare groups have been working to ban the sport hunt of bears on the B.C. coast and Haida Gwaii. A 2009 Ipsos-Reid poll shows more than 79 percent of British Columbians want to see protection for bears in the Great Bear Rainforest.
For more information contact:
Ian McAllister,
Pacific Wild
250 -957-2480
250-882 7246
ian@pacificwild.org
For b-roll video and interviews contact Pacific Wild.
Eric Boyum,
Ocean Adventures
604 988 5990
604 812 9453