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B.C. Has its Own Version of Cecil the Lion by Julius Strauss and Kevin Smith

by Barb Murray
August 1, 2015June 27, 2016

Grizzly bear viewing is a growing tourism business that brings in millions of dollars to the B.C. economy. PHOTO: Jonathan Hayward/CP

While the world has been gripped by the sad fate of Cecil the Lion, shot earlier this week by an American trophy hunter on the plains of Africa and left to die, British Columbia has many of its very own Cecils quietly bringing millions of dollars into the provincial economy.

Over the last two decades, grizzly bear viewing in B.C. has grown from a tiny niche business to one estimated be worth $30 million in direct revenue to the economy in 2012, according to the Centre for Responsible Travel’s study conducted with Stanford University.

This is more than 10 times as much as the industry of killing bears for sport.

And yet, this industry is under pressure from trophy hunting.

Grizzly bears seen as gold for mining, B.C. gov’t emails reveal Vancouver Observer

by Barb Murray
March 13, 2015June 27, 2016

Relaxing grizzly bear. Photo by Andrew S. Wright. FOI investigation reveals that senior B.C. bureaucrats seized on the province’s rising grizzly bear numbers —disputed by researchers—to “mitigate” the impacts of mining Mychaylo Prystupa Mar 13th, 2015 Senior B.C. wildlife bureaucrats seized upon the… Read More »Grizzly bears seen as gold for mining, B.C. gov’t emails reveal Vancouver Observer

Coastal Guardian Watchmen confront armed trophy hunters to save grizzlies

by Barb Murray
February 25, 2015June 27, 2016

“Sometimes it gets nasty,” said Jason Moody, a patroller from Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola.http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/coastal-guardian-watchmen-confront-armed-trophy-hunters-save-grizzlies Mychaylo Prystupa Feb 24th, 2015 Coastal Guardian Watchmen on the lookout for trophy hunters on the Great Bear Rainforest coast in 2010. Photo by Doug Neasloss… Read More »Coastal Guardian Watchmen confront armed trophy hunters to save grizzlies

NDP and Liberals off-target on grizzly trophy hunt, conservationist says

by Barb Murray
February 21, 2015February 21, 2015

http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/ndp-and-liberals-target-grizzly-trophy-hunt-conservationist-says by Mychaylo Prystupa A fierce political squabble this week in the British Columbia legislature over who gets to shoot bears — locals or foreigners — has entirely missed the target about the need to protect at-risk grizzlies, says… Read More »NDP and Liberals off-target on grizzly trophy hunt, conservationist says

The SayZu Communications Experiment Brought a unique reach of 412,197 twitter feeds to SAVEBCBEARS Rally!

by Barb Murray
February 16, 2014February 16, 2014
1 Comment

The power of social media is just beginning to show up in grasssroots rallies like those held yesterday by the organizers of the ‘Save BC Bears’ Rally in Victoria. The rally organizers and participants may have packed off home to… Read More »The SayZu Communications Experiment Brought a unique reach of 412,197 twitter feeds to SAVEBCBEARS Rally!

CBC Article, Bear Trophy Hunt Opposed at B.C. Legislature Rally

by Barb Murray
February 16, 2014February 25, 2014

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bear-trophy-hunt-opposed-at-b-c-legislature-rally-1.2538895 – included is Video Clip of Vicky Husband on this issue. Bears Matter Note-205 letters were signed at Rally -well over 200 attended Rally in the wind and rain…well done! Dozens gathered at the B.C. legislature Saturday afternoon for a… Read More »CBC Article, Bear Trophy Hunt Opposed at B.C. Legislature Rally