The recent World Conservation Union (IUCN) report that 75 per cent of the world's bear species are facing extinction got us thinking: What does a bear need to get by these days?
Some space to stretch sure helps. Bears, like many of the larger members of the order Carnivora, demand a fair amount of legroom – hundreds of square kilometres, in fact. This enormous home range offers the variety and quantity of food and shelter needed to keep bears healthy and to encourage reproduction.
Perhaps this is why, despite China's massive efforts over the past 15 years, the giant panda is still at the top of the list of bears categorized as endangered. Habitat is something that is hard to return in the condition you borrowed it, and reintroducing animals to their former habitat is a tricky business.
Maybe it's time for that ounce of prevention…
Two of three species native to Canada are considered "of least concern" by the IUCN: the black and the brown bear, which include grizzlies. These are the only two species in the world not yet facing mass extinction. And we're certainly not out of the woods, so to speak.
"Though the grizzly isn't yet listed, it, too, is facing an uncertain future within specific geographic regions, including Alberta and southern B.C.," advises our own science director, Dr. Faisal Moola.
The polar bear, which recently gained status as vulnerable courtesy of habitat loss due to climate change, is certainly under-protected. Its semi-celeb profile these days isn't putting any more seal in its belly.
So what's to be done? Good question! The David Suzuki Foundation is just completing an analysis of the current federal and provincial protections for our pale friend called Canada's Polar Bear: Falling Through the Cracks?
And why not send us some bear stories? We don't care if they're black, brown, sun, panda, or teddy. Why do you love bears, and what makes them worth saving?
We'll be back with more about bears and some upcoming actions, like our Polar Bear Express day, in the coming weeks.
Consider this the first installment of a world bears series.
Posted on behalf of Brooke McDonald
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Bali Blog
Lora Bruncke
Bears just need the bare necessities, other bears, air, food and water.
It's man who craves all the rest.
Right now some of us are too busy being naive consumers of corrupt corporations, to realize what is happening around us.
Man lived for thousands of years in harmony with the bear. The bear just recently got in the way of mankind's economy.
Their is still hope for the bear. He is also evolving. And when you think about it, bears may outlive us because they need less.
Take care and thanks for the chance to bare my soul!
Deborah Marsh
This is a story about living graciously with bears.
In September my friend,Ghyslain, visited his Inuk friend and family for a fishing trip just outside of George River (Kangiqsualujuaq) in arctic Quebec on the Ungava Bay. When he arrived back from his weekend visit Ghyslain came laiden with stories and photos from a trip he will likely never forget. One of the highlights was an afternoon by a rushing boulder strewn river, the grandmother picking berries and lovingly playing with her grandchildren on the rocks while her husband harpoon fished for salmon in the rock pools. Later while preparing a fish for the evening meal a black bear, smelling the feast, approached the camp, eventually rising up on his back legs to survey the entire scene. (The photos are great!)At this point Ghyslain's friend fired his rifle into the air to ward off the visiter. The beast graciously obliged and backed away. The next morning before leaving the camp site, Ghyslain's friend left behind on the rocks one of the 3 fish that he had skillfully caught by harpoon the day before: a thankyou to the bear for leaving the family and their guest in peace on their outing.
Deborah Marsh
This is a story about living graciously with bears.
In September my friend,Ghyslain, visited his Inuk friend and family for a fishing trip just outside of George River (Kangiqsualujuaq) in arctic Quebec on the Ungava Bay. When he arrived back from his weekend visit Ghyslain came laiden with stories and photos from a trip he will likely never forget. One of the highlights was an afternoon by a rushing boulder strewen river, the grandmother picking berries and lovingly playing with her grandchildren on the rocks while her husband harpoon fished for salmon in the rock pools. Later while preparing a fish for the evening meal a black bear, smelling the feast, approached the camp, eventually rising up on his back legs to survey the entire scene. (The photos are great!)At this point Ghyslain's friend fired his rifle into the air to ward off the visiter. The beast graciously obliged and backed away. The next morning before leaving the camp site, Ghyslain's friend left behind on the rocks one of the 3 fish that he had skillfully caught by harpoon the day before: a thankyou to the bear for leaving the family and their guest in peace on their outing.
Ingrid Braun
With the growing Asian population in Canada, are we to be concerned for the black bear being poached for parts used in traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine? Are these items currently being imported to meet the needs of this culture ( legally or illegally ). This is not a question based on prejudice, but a question on the welfare of our bears who until now are living relatively untouched.