Well, I just read a post by Gord Buchanan from BBC’s Polar Bear Family and Me… it seems after Polar Bears International’s scathing review maybe he is working to show his love for bears. I mean I believe it is genuine, because everyone genuinely wants the best for bears even if they are diametrically opposed as to how to achieve it… but still…
Anyway, after semi-defending Buchanan last week, I might cut this one up a bit… here are my excerpts…
‘I struggle to get my head around the trophy-hunting of polar bears. When hunting is carried out by indiginous Inuit populations for sustenance, that is different. Inuit hunters use every part of the polar bear’s body…’
For dog food maybe, which is fine and all that. If you are an Inuk and hunting polar bears for sustenance, then well maybe you should get an office job. Go get a seal or a caribou. And when did Buchanan ever meet an Inuk in order to ask him?
‘When hunting was banned in Norway and Russia, polar bear populations there were under real pressure – since the bans, populations have recovered.’
We actually have little to no data on these populations so this statement is pretty random. The PBSG states that the Chukchi Sea population is still declining… for whatever that means. Polar bears actually recovered in Canada where hunting was not banned but simply co-managed with the Inuit.
‘Some leading experts say that hunting may currently be an even greater threat to the polar bear than climate change.’
The sound you just heard was the steam coming out of Steve Amstrup’s ears. Just teasing…!!! Anyway, I haven’t heard any expert say this… on either side of the debate. Oh wait, I heard this about Russia… but wait…
‘For organisations in Canada to sell a ticket to hunt polar bears to some Texan for thousands of dollars is just wrong. Trophy-hunting and the international trade in trophies come from a warped appreciation of an animal. To want to turn them into rugs is a pretty poor appreciation of what they are.’
Oh look, he is wanking about hunters, just the same way PBI was wanking about him…!!! Organizations across Canada…? Huh?
‘Having spent a great deal of time in the wild seeing the problems polar bears face’
Not sure I believe you. Or is eight months considered a ‘great deal of time’ now…?
‘so I back a ban on the international trade in polar bear trophies.’
Yeah, that’s fine with me… but what suggestion do you have to replace that part of the economy? Oh wait, another UK advocate for removing a piece of the arctic economy… that should go over well.
My advice? Stick to baiting in Svalbard, just have fun and enjoy the bears. Bears are fun! And if you are not going to actually make use of that ‘Ice Cube’ polar bear viewing container vehicle… GIVE IT TO ME!!!
