The unabashed decision of the Alberta province has been to partially reopen the long-standing ban against grizzly bear hunting after 18 years of moratorium, expectedly opening the recovery of this threatened species.
There has been deep concern among conservationists regarding the potential ramifications that this would have on the grizzly bear population that exhibited characteristics of recovery in the past recent years.
Conservationists Cry Out (Photo : JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images)
In no way have the environmentalists delayed in responding to the out-of-ban hunting. They argue that grizzly bear-rearing efforts are now going to be derailed.
Most especially, the Alberta Wilderness Association has been strongly opposed to it, saying that hunting is a means that is not at all acceptable to manage a species still under the threat category.
They believe in allowing only non-lethal ways that are scientifically based for handling wildlife, such as securing attractants on agricultural lands and electric fencing against bears encroaching into human habitations.
Debate Over Wildlife Management
The debate over the best approach to take in dealing with wildlife management goes on in Alberta. Authorities at the province level justify it by stating that the number of grizzly bears has increased from 800 to more than 1,150 since such a ban was introduced.
At this rate of increase, contact between bears and humans has similarly increased, pegged at 104 attacks from the year 2000 till 2021.
However, conservationists say conflicts can be better reduced using tactics that don't involve killing the animals.The decision to allow grizzly bear hunting again in Alberta is contentious; respective sides dig deeper into their position taken.
The world will continue eyeballing how this decision affects the fine line between human activity and wildlife preservation as the province moves forward with the plan.
What are some arguments in support of the grizzly bear hunt?
In what is considered a highly controversial move, the Canadian province of Alberta has just announced a partial removal of the 18-year grizzly bear hunting ban.
Conservationists have reacted harshly to the news that grizzly bear hunting, banned since 2006 to protect the dwindling population of these animals in Canada, is again to be allowed. Their numbers have increased from 800 to more than 1,150 as a result of this law.
This growth, nevertheless, has varied the level of human-bear conflict, and from 2000 to 2021 alone, there have been 104 attacks.
Environmental groups like the Alberta Wilderness Association, however, believe that grizzly bear hunting should not be implemented as a way of management of threatened species.
They put forth nonlethal substitute techniques-securing attractants on farm holdings and establishment electric fencing to preclude the entry of bears into the human community.
The debate rages on as the province pushes forward with its plan, begging the question of what this decision will mean for grizzly bear conservation in Alberta's future.
At the time the ban was brought in, the grizzly bear population was in sharp decline but is now credited with boosting numbers from 800 to more than 1,150.
However, growth has led to an increasing number of human-bear conflicts, with 104 attacks between 2000 and 2021.
Environmental groups like the Alberta Wilderness Association say hunting isn't a suitable way to manage the population of a threatened species.
What they want instead are nonlethal methods of securing attractants on agricultural lands and electric fencing to keep bears out of human-populated areas.
The debate still rages on with the province moving forward with its plan; many question its implications for the future of grizzly bear conservation in Alberta.
