VANCOUVER — The Globe and Mail
Published Sunday, Aug. 02, 2015 7:40PM EDT
Last updated Sunday, Aug. 02, 2015 11:20PM EDT
Drawn by the scent of death, the apex predators came to the hunters. That’s what made the killing of Cecil the lion in Africa, and the shooting of an unnamed grizzly bear in British Columbia, both illegal activities.
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.
Read More »B.C. Has its Own Version of Cecil the Lion by Julius Strauss and Kevin Smith
“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
Photo of Premier Christy Clark at 2012 GOABC convention from Facebook. GOABC president Mark Werner, left, and executive director Scott Ellis, right. By Claire Hume Jan.27’15 Vancouver Observer Third in a series investigating B.C.’s trophy hunt. Read part one and two… Read More »Grizzly bear population at risk as B.C. Liberal government aligns with trophy hunters
December 15, 2014 By Andrew Weaver http://www.andrewweavermla.ca/2014/12/15/guide-outfitter-industry-prioritized-bc-hunters/ Media Statement: December 15, 2014 For immediate release Victoria, B.C. –The Government of British Columbia’s recent decision to prioritize the guide outfitting industry over the interests of resident British Columbia hunters is directly… Read More »Guide outfitter industry prioritized over the needs of BC hunters by MLA Andrew Weaver
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/chris-genovali/bc-grizzly-bear-hunt_b_5155807.html?utm_hp_ref=tw We want these bears dead. This is the message the B.C. government’s “reallocation policy” sends to Raincoast Conservation Foundation, British Columbians, and Canadians across the country. This policy is also preventing the implementation of an innovative solution to end… Read More »Why Does B.C. Government So Desperately Want Grizzly Bears Dead? by Chris Genovali
