Spirit bear hunting territory: January update
In 2011, Raincoast purchased a second commercial hunting tenure. Frustrating and unnecessary government delays have prevented us from being able to announce this successful aquisition. However, in December 2011 we received assurances from the BC provincial government that the territory will be transferred to us in early 2012.
In 2005, our supporters helped us purchase a vast guide outfitting territory on BC’s central coast and end commercial trophy hunting of bears and wolves. Given the huge success of that initiative, both in terms of stopping trophy hunting and supporting commercial wildlife viewing, we decided to look for similar opportunities. Last year, we negotiated a unique hunting tenure which comprises the home of nearly all the world’s free roaming spirit bears.
In July of 2011, thanks to your incredible generosity, we raised the $370,000 needed to purchase the tenure by the deadline. Since raising the funds, we have been waiting for the BC Ministry of Environment to transfer the new territory to Raincoast. These frustrating and unnecessary government delays have prevented us from being able to announce this purchase. However, in December 2011 we received assurances from the BC provincial government that the territory will be transferred to us in early 2012.
The acquisition of this territory, in combination with our initial purchase, means that we have effectively ended commercial trophy hunting in a contiguous area of nearly 30,000 sq km. This has only been possible because of your support. Stand with us as we continue to pursue our goal of ending the trophy hunting of large carnivores on the coast of British Columbia.
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Raincoast’s in-house scientists, collaborating graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professors make us unique among conservation groups. We work with First Nations, academic institutions, government, and other NGOs to build support and inform decisions that protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the wildlife that depend on them. We conduct ethically applied, process-oriented, and hypothesis-driven research that has immediate and relevant utility for conservation deliberations and the collective body of scientific knowledge.
We investigate to understand coastal species and processes. We inform by bringing science to decision-makers and communities. We inspire action to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats.
