Fewer than 400 Kermode bears, (also known as Spirit Bears), inhabit the Great Bear Rainforest on on the coast area of British Columbia, Canada, that stretches from the Alaska panhandle southwards to the northern tip of Vancouver Island. And approximately 120 Spirit Bears inhabit the large Princess Royal Island.
The Kemode Bear is a subspecies of the American Black Bear but about 1/10 of their population has white or cream-coloured coats. They are not albinos and not any more related to polar bears or the "blonde" brown bears of Alaska. They are a unique subspecies of bear found nowhere else.
The bear's habitat is potentially under threat from the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines, whose planned route passes near the Great Bear Rainforest.
Stop plans for the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline and protect the rainforest and the unique Kermode Bear.Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
E-mail:
pm@pm.gc.ca