Dr. Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, and UN Messenger of Peace, went on to say in a video interview being released today on-line by the conservation group Pacific Wild,

"I support Coastal First Nations’ efforts to protect the bears in their traditional territories. I have always found sport or trophy hunting hard to understand.”

In 2001, Premier Gordon Campbell overturned a moratorium on the trophy hunting of grizzly bears, and since this time nearly 2000 grizzly bears have been killed for sport in B.C.

“Trophy hunting of bears in the Great Bear Rainforest is dismaying and unjust.” said Order of Canada recipient Robert Bateman. “It has nothing to do with subsistence, it’s simply an unforgivable act of wildlife destruction.   Grizzly and black bears are an integral part of the landscape and ecosystem of the Great Bear Rainforest and there is no justification for killing these animals just for sport.  Our Provincial government must listen to the opinions of the First Nations and the majority of British Columbians by ending this hunt for good."

“We are doing everything possible to stop the trophy bear hunt,” said Percy Starr, a hereditary chief of the Kitasoo First Nation. “This trophy hunt is not part of our culture or economy and we are very grateful for Dr. Goodall’s and Mr. Bateman's support.”

A coalition of groups, including Coastal First Nations, BC-based Pacific Wild, Humane Society International/Canada and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, is encouraging the B.C. government to protect bears in the Great Bear Rainforest by ending the needless and unsustainable trophy hunt. A 2009 Ipsos-Reid poll shows over 79% of British Columbians want to see protection for bears in the Great Bear Rainforest. The trophy hunt also threatens tourism-based bear viewing operations, which bring more income to rural communities than bear killing.

"It is only a matter of time before this senseless trophy hunt becomes a sad chapter in B.C.’s history,” said Ian McAllister of the conservation group Pacific Wild. “No one can say that the Great Bear Rainforest is protected while bears continue to be legally slaughtered for trophies.”