EBAY URGED TO HALT SALES OF TROPHY HUNTING GRIZZLY BEARS, WOLVES & OTHER CARNIVORES For release: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Sidney, B.C. – Today, wildlife advocates urged eBay to halt the sale of trophy hunts of grizzly and brown bears, black bears, wolves, cougars and other predators on its website. The wildlife groups, Raincoast <http://www.raincoast.org/ <http://www.raincoast.org/> >, Big Wildlife <http://www.bigwildlife.org/ <http://www.bigwildlife.org/> > and the Alaska Wildlife Alliance (AWA) <http://www.akwildlife.org/ <http://www.akwildlife.org/> >, said the online auction and shopping website – known more for its sales of doll collections and used appliances – regularly permits postings of guided trophy hunts of large predators throughout the U.S., Canada, and abroad. In a February 11, 2009 letter to eBay CEO John Donahoe, the groups wrote the “company’s promotion of hunting these animals is adding to the many threats these species face.”“Have the lives of Canada’s grizzly bears, wolves and other large carnivores become so cheapened by the purveyors of trophy hunting that selling an opportunity to kill one is now as commonplace as trying to unload a kitchen appliance or baseball cards on eBay?” said Chris Genovali, Executive Director of the British Columbia based Raincoast Conservation. eBay announced a global ban last year on sales of ivory products after an International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) report revealed the online auction site was helping to fuel illegal trade in wildlife products. While Raincoast, Big Wildlife and AWA said they were encouraged by eBay’s ban on ivory, but a recent review of the eBay website found hunting sales complete with photos of grizzlies and other carnivores killed for trophies (links below).“Most people visit eBay to buy vintage dolls, used camera or lawn furniture. Few eBay users know the company also auctions off the lives of some of our planet’s most magnificent carnivores. eBay has become an online marketplace peddling the slaughter of wolves, bears and cougars,” said Brian Vincent, Big Wildlife’s Communication Director.The wildlife advocates said expansive trophy hunting of top predators ignores the importance these species play in natural systems. For instance top predators help regulate the food web, sustain ecological integrity and preserve species diversity. Their disappearance triggers changes in abundance of other species and the intricate connections among the remaining residents can unravel.The groups have been working to end trophy hunting of grizzly and brown bears in British Columbia and Alaska. The bears face threats from habitat loss, declining salmon, mortality from trophy hunting, poaching, and international trade in bear parts. Last year a record 430 grizzlies were killed in BC. Close to 1,500 brown and grizzly bears are killed annually in Alaska. Some of these bears are shot in the Katmai National Preserve, one of the premier bear viewing areas in the world. “The same is true in BC” said Genovali. “The spring grizzly hunt is only seven weeks away and bears and wolves can be legally shot for sport in our provincial parks and protected areas”.
-30-
Contacts:Chris Genovali, Raincoast Conservation, 250-655-1229 ext 225; 250-888-3579 (cell)Brian Vincent, Big Wildlife, 541-846-1352John Toppenberg, Alaska Wildlife Alliance, 907-277-9819Backgrounder:Scroll down to read letter to eBay CEOScroll down to see sample of trophy hunting posts on eBayClick here to view grizzly bear hunt in Alaska <http://stream.qtv.apple.com/qtv/SeeMoreDZ/katmai_bear_hunt_videos_ref... <http://stream.qtv.apple.com/qtv/SeeMoreDZ/katmai_bear_hunt_videos_ref...> > Click here to watch "Katami bear hunt debate rages on<http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=7177267 <http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=7177267> > Click here to view grizzly bear hunt in BC <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUXqB8JZwgY <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUXqB8JZwgY> > Click here to view cougar hunt in New Mexico <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNE1CCo1gzo <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNE1CCo1gzo> > SAMPLE OF TROPHY HUNTING POSTS ON eBay Ontario Timber Wolf Hunt <http://cgi.ebay.com/ONTARIO-TIMBER-WOLF-HUNT-NEAR-100-OPP-ON-WOLF_W0Q... <http://cgi.ebay.com/ONTARIO-TIMBER-WOLF-HUNT-NEAR-100-OPP-ON-WOLF_W0Q...> > : The hunt is a real hunting adventure! Near 100% opportunity on timber wolf, we hunt over bait in a heated treestand...Choose any weapon.” Price: $699 Alberta Wolf Hunt<http://cgi.ebay.com/2009-ALBERTA-WOLF-HUNT-100-OPP-HUNT-OVER BAIT_W0QQitemZ390027588479QQihZ026QQcategoryZ14110QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem <http://cgi.ebay.com/2009-ALBERTA-WOLF-HUNT-100-OPP-HUNT-OVER%20BAIT_W...> > : We’re overrun with wolves, we have trophy wolves.” Price: $2,400. Alaska Spring Grizzly Bear Hunt<http://cgi.ebay.com/ALASKA-SPRING-GRIZZLY-BEAR-HUNT-NEAR-100-OPP-9-49... <http://cgi.ebay.com/ALASKA-SPRING-GRIZZLY-BEAR-HUNT-NEAR-100-OPP-9-49...> > : Normal price of $9,499 that’s over $5,000 off the regular price.” British Columbia Spring Grizzly Bear Hunt<http://cgi.ebay.com/SPRING-2009-BRITISH-COLUMBIA-GRIZZLY-BEAR-HUNT-10... <http://cgi.ebay.com/SPRING-2009-BRITISH-COLUMBIA-GRIZZLY-BEAR-HUNT-10...> > : 7 day fully guided BC Grizzly Bear hunt with a 1x1 guide…’Wow’ hunt is cheaapp…You will have a great opportunity on bagging a trophy grizzly bear in British Columbia.” Price: “We are offering this hunt for $5,999+ a $1,999 trophy fee if bear is harvested.” Mountain Lion Hunt <http://cgi.ebay.com/mountain-lion-hunt-cougar-hunt_W0QQitemZ200254402... <http://cgi.ebay.com/mountain-lion-hunt-cougar-hunt_W0QQitemZ200254402...> > : Saskatchewan Lynx Hunt <http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390027210892&ssPag... <http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390027210892&ssPag...> > LETTER TO eBay CEO:February 11, 2009 John Donahoe, CEOeBay Inc.2145 Hamilton AvenueSan Jose, California 95125 Dear Mr. Donahoe: We, the undersigned, urge eBay to halt the sale of trophy hunts of grizzly and brown bears, wolves, cougars, and other large predators on its website. While reviewing sale items posted on eBay, we discovered hunting guides regularly post the sale of trophy hunting opportunities of top predators, including at-risk species such as grizzly bears, wolves, cougars, and lynx. Your company’s promotion of hunting these animals is adding to the many threats these species face. Last year, your company announced a global ban on eBay sales of ivory products after an International Fund for Animal Welfare report revealed your site was helping to fuel illegal trade in wildlife products. While we are encouraged by your ban on ivory, a recent review of eBay’s sale items found many hunting sales complete with graphic photos of animals killed for trophies. Sport hunting of top predators like grizzlies, wolves and cougars, ignores the importance these species play in natural systems. Top predators help regulate the food web, sustain ecological integrity and preserve species diversity. Their disappearance triggers changes in abundance of other species and the intricate connections among the remaining residents can unravel.Our organizations have been working to end trophy hunting of grizzly and brown bears in Alaska and British Columbia. These bears face a host of threats, including habitat loss (from industrial logging, mining, energy development, and urban sprawl), declining salmon abundance, and human-induced mortality from trophy hunting, poaching, and international trade in bear parts. Though grizzlies are protected in the lower 48 states, they are open targets for trophy hunters in Alaska and Canada. Last year, a record 430 grizzlies were killed in BC. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1,904 grizzly and brown bears were killed by hunters in 2004 (the most recent year for which the agency has data). Hunters in Alaska kill almost 1,500 brown and grizzly bears annually. Some of these bears are shot in the Katmai National Preserve, one of the world’s premier bear viewing areas. The same is true in BC. The spring grizzly hunt is only seven weeks away and bears and wolves can be legally shot for sport in our provincial parks and protected areas. We encourage you to watch the videos of trophy hunting these animals at the following links to see the reality behind these guided hunts. While these videos are disturbing, we believe it is important that you understand the kind of activities eBay is condoning: http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=7177267 <http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=7177267> <http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=7177267 <http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=7177267> > http://stream.qtv.apple.com/qtv/SeeMoreDZ/katmai_bear_hunt_videos_ref... <http://stream.qtv.apple.com/qtv/SeeMoreDZ/katmai_bear_hunt_videos_ref...> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUXqB8JZwgY <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUXqB8JZwgY> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUXqB8JZwgY <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUXqB8JZwgY> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNE1CCo1gzo <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNE1CCo1gzo> Again, we urge eBay to end its practice of selling trophy hunting opportunities of wildlife. Thank you. Sincerely, Brian Vincent, Communications DirectorPOB 489Williams, Oregon 97544br...@bigwildlife.org Chris Genovali, Executive DirectorRaincoast ConservationP.O. Box 2429 SidneyB.C. Canada V8L 3Y3ch...@raincoast.org John Toppenberg, DirectorAlaska Wildlife AlliancePO Box 202022Anchorage , AK 99520j...@akwildlife.org
------ End of Forwarded Message------ End of Forwarded Message------ End of Forwarded Message-- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.
