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Animal rights advocates decry province's release of bear cub

By: Gabrielle Giroday

Wednesday, Jun. 20, 2012 at 8:19 AM | Comments: 1

A small black bear from Manitoba that became a lightning rod for controversy has been released into the wild.

However, an animal advocate who led the failed fight to get the black bear sent to a sanctuary said she'll step up her efforts on behalf of other animals. The province announced Tuesday the bear -- named Makoon by the St. Malo family that rescued the orphaned cub from a ditch in March -- had been flown to an unspecified remote location, along with a second bear that had also been cared for at the Assiniboine Park Zoo.

Thousands of people from around the world had signed a petition asking the province not to release the bear into the wild. In recent weeks, attention on the bear's release had ramped up as the animal lived in the zoo, growing in size for its eventual release.

"The government should be charged for cruelty to animals," said Judy Stearns, who created a Facebook page called Save Bear Cub Makoon, which became a hub for those interested.

"We're backward, backward when it comes to animals."

Stearns was part of a protest staged outside the zoo last week, calling attention to the bear's release at an age and size advocates consider vulnerable.

"Now, this is just a start," she said. "This is not over... I am going to keep going with this and push for changes."

By last week, Stearns said about 10,000 people had signed the petition.

Bill McDonald, CEO of the Winnipeg Humane Society, also lambasted the decision.

"They haven't acted in the best interests of the bear cub Makoon," said McDonald.

The Canadian Humane Society had also launched a petition focusing on the bear before it was released -- and said the decision to release the bears defied "common sense and science."

"Imagine releasing two terrified bear cubs, unable to defend themselves, into the wilderness, without food or shelter, to a short-lived cruel existence.

"In doing so, the premier has also triggered serious collective and individual potential liabilities for his government under wildlife and cruelty to animal laws which means accountability and consequences for those involved," said the Canadian Humane Society's website.

A media release sent out by Manitoba Conservation Tuesday afternoon said both bears weighed more than 30 pounds when they were released. Jim Duncan, director of the wildlife branch for Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship, refused to say where the bears were freed.

"I think the chances of encountering those bears are slim to none, and that's the intent, of course," he said.

The cost of the flight was about $900, said a Conservation spokeswoman. The animals showed "a number of instinctive behaviours including the ability to locate food on their own," said a Manitoba Conservation release.

"Wildlife biologists who surveyed the area before the bears were released found a wide variety of plentiful food sources, including eggs, fish and berries," said the release. "The area is very remote, which will reduce the chances of either bear coming into contact with humans in the future."

The release said the bears were in "excellent condition" and were "quite large for their age."

gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca

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Posted by:JOHN FEFCHAK

June 20, 2012 at 9:18 AM

"Including eggs, fish and berries" They released these 2 little bears very close to a "Grocery Store" Wonder if they gave them any money?

Seriously, their chances of survival are very slim. Don't understand why they were not allowed to be sent to Ontario. (Are Manitoba bears are not allowed to live in Ontario?) Common sense and science tells us to leave the animals in the wild………But when that rule has been overlooked for care and compassionate reasons, as in this case, then we should turn the page and read the chapter that refers us to taking care of animals, until they reach a stage of maturity and well being that they will be able to fend for themselves.
Makoon and his companion were not given that opportunity.

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