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Jeff and Sue Turner's film GHOST BEAR gives us a glimpse of an idyllic world untouched by humans, but that may not be the case for much longer. Princess Royal Island's northern third has already been given over to the logging industry. Loggers have their eyes on the rest of the island, but conservation groups are trying to halt the destruction of the forest, and an environmental impact study has been ordered before lumber companies will be able to proceed. |
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Bald eagles share a habitat with the bears. |
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Killer whales, elephant seals, eagles, wolves, salmon, and, of course, Kermode bears would be able to live in the wilderness, safe from loggers. The British Columbia government has drawn up plans to set aside land for the bears, but biologists say the area under consideration is only about one-tenth the space these large, solitary animals require. |
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The island is slated for logging. |
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The Valhalla Wilderness Society, of New Denver, British Columbia, began a campaign in 1994 to save the ghost bears' habitat, proposing to create a national park along Canada's Pacific coast. Spirit Bear Park would protect 660,000 acres of temperate rainforest, marine habitats, estuaries, and salmon streams. If created, this park would provide a crucial final link to connect parks up and down the Canadian coast, forming a protected corridor for wildlife. |
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