Reward Offered in Bear Poaching Case

From YubaNet.com

CA
Reward Offered in Bear Poaching Case
Author: The Humane Society of the United States
Published on May 9, 2008 - 9:40:37 AM

May 8, 2008 -- The Humane Society of the United States and The HSUS Wildlife Land Trust are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for allegedly illegally killing a bear or bears whose paws were found in a Riverside, Calif.-area home.

The Case:

According to published news reports, on May 3, police were called to a home north of the Riverside Municipal Airport after residents found bear paws in a bag.

"For every bear legally killed by a hunter in North America, some estimates indicate that another bear is killed unlawfully by a poacher," said Eric Sakach, director of the West Coast Regional Office for The HSUS. "These criminals are targeting U.S. bear populations to meet the demand for bear bile and gall bladders on the black market. It's not only inhumane and wasteful, but is also a serious crime. The Humane Society of the United States applauds the California Department of Fish and Game for strongly investigating and enforcing the state's anti-poaching laws. Congress needs to pass the Bear Protection Act to provide stronger federal laws to combat wildlife crimes."

Poaching and the Trade in Bear Parts:

Every year, thousands of poachers are arrested nationwide; however, it is estimated that only 1 to 5 percent are caught. Poachers kill wildlife anytime, anywhere and sometimes in particularly cruel ways.

Wild bear populations are under attack by poachers feeding the international black market trade in bear parts. Wild American bears are being slaughtered for their gallbladders, bile and paws which are either sold domestically or illegally exported for the traditional folk remedy trade.

H.R. 5534, the Bear Protection Act, introduced by Reps. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and John Campbell (R-Calif.) would prohibit the import, export and interstate commerce of bear viscera such as the gallbladder and bile.

The Investigators:

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the California Department of Fish and Game via its Cal-Tip Hotline at 1-888-DFG-CALTIP (888-334-2258).

The HSUS works to stop wildlife abuse across the country. Visit humanesociety.org/hunt for more information.