Suzuki Says Stop the Grizzly Hunt - They're Even Protected in the US

B.C. government statistics show 430 grizzlies were killed in the province in 2007, and close to 11,000 have been killed since 1975.

Last year's kill in B.C. was a record...............Most of the bears — about 88 per cent — were killed for sport. The rest were killed by poachers and animal-control officers.

The B.C. government argues the grizzly hunt is sustainable, but the methods by which it estimates the numbers of bears are imprecise. In fact, many leading bear biologists say the B.C. government's numbers — about 17,000 grizzlies — are high and the number may be as low as 6,000. When scientists and researchers are unable to determine accurate population numbers, they often rely on the precautionary principle to ensure sustainable management. This is the idea that, when potential risks exist, it's better to be safe than sorry.

As a start, the B.C. government must suspend the controversial grizzly hunt, as Alberta recently did, and must continue to protect large areas of grizzly habitat from resource development, roads, and other human pressures.

British Columbia is unique in that grizzlies still inhabit much of the province, even though they have been eliminated from almost all their historical territory across the planet. That means we have a global responsibility to protect this iconic carnivore.