I am hearing more and more stories of wildlife behaving unnaturally, losing fear of humans (though in truth they should be more afraid of us than ever), and of their unusual forays into domestic areas in search of food. They cannot know that they are not welcome. They are desperately hungry, and hunger makes one set aside one's caution.
On my facebook page today my friend Chris posted Tofino resident Ocean Giesbrecht's photos of two wolves - obviously skinny and hungry - shot and dumped into a Tofino dumpster. Rumours around Tuff City are that the wolves were shot on Meares Island. Perhaps in response to recent wolf activity in Tofino. Ocean's post acknowledges it is heartbreaking when occasionally a domestic dog is killed by a wolf. But wolves need to live too and we are the reason they're displaced from habitat and are coming into town hungry.
Conservation officers stated they "dont care to investigate the carcass." (Why not?)
Apparently, also, and I heard this for the first time today, it is legal for humans to hunt wolves between September 10 to June 15th. (Why?) Pretty much open season on a species that has its place and should have its right to survive in the food chain. It's not like humans need to hunt them for food.
These photos are hurtful to look upon. Two beautiful wild creatures shot and tossed into a dumpster. But my belief is, if the animals can endure this hell humans have created for them, I can bear witness. In the hopes of raising awareness, if nothing else.
Maybe we need to write our legislated officials that we dont believe in the hunting of bears and wolves.
These beautiful creatures, if the rumours are true, were living on a wilderness island populated by only a few hundred humans. And even there, they were not safe. I put these photos here, with credit to Ocean Giesbrecht of Tofino, to honor the untimely passing of their lives, and to say that I care.
Look how skinny he was.
Run free, wolf brother, wolf sister. In a forest free of humankind.
I think you and I both know that someday--maybe far into the future...maybe not so far--they'll all be gone. All the wild animals. And the only remnants of them will be in zoos.
ReplyDeleteThank you, mankind.
What we are doing to the animal's ecosystems breaks my heart; shame on us!
ReplyDeletepoor babies. what are we doing? so jaded we are, as a species.
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteThis infuriates me. I'm going to go off somewhere and cuss now.
ReplyDeleteIt is heartbreaking all right.. But then we are the only species endowed enough to bring out good thing on this earth. However we choose not to.. Quelle malheure!
ReplyDeleteI cry. Time will come where those responsible for such ugly contribution to human kind will feel retribution.
ReplyDeletei'm glad you posted these photos. i don't understand the local politics, but if conservation officers don't investigate a dead carcass tossed in a dumpster meant for inorganic trash, what exactly do they investigate?
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad. And infuriating.
ReplyDeletethink its disgusting, wolves have as much right to live in this world as us, if not more as they don't destroy and pillage the land.(what right we to claim the land and say its ours?) its as much their land and world as it is ours!
ReplyDeletethink its disgusting, wolves have as much right to live in this world as us, if not more as they don't destroy and pillage the land.(what right we to claim the land and say its ours?) its as much their land and world as it is ours!
ReplyDeleterest in peace brother wolves:(