In January, the European Union suspended the import of grizzly bear hunting trophies from British Columbia.
The European Union had repeatedly threatened such action — as recently as June 2003 it told British Columbia that it would take such an action if British Columbia did not establish hunting-free reserves for grizzly bears by December 1, 2003.
Environmental groups have pressured the European Union for years to take such action, contending that the grizzly bear is already threatened in the United States and that it should pressure British Columbia to stop the hunt of grizzly bears there. In fact, the European Union suspended import of grizzly bear trophies in December 2001, though later lifted that measure.
Bette Stallman of the Humane Society of the United States said in press release that the continued hunting of grizzlies in British Columbia may threaten grizzly populations in the United States,
Immigration of BC grizzlies across the border into the U.S. is crucial for the future viability of the small U.S. grizzly populations. We hope that the EU’s decision will inspire the British Columbian government to act to protect the grizzlies in BC.
Sources:
European Union Decides to Suspend Imports of Grizzly Bear Hunting Trophies from British Columbia. Environmental Investigation Agency and the Humane Society of the United States, January 23, 2004.