Update: Thousands join fight to reinstate wildlife officer
Digital Reporter
Thursday, July 9, 2015, 10:56 AM - Over 70,000 people, including English comedian and actor Ricky Gervais, have signed an online petition on Change.org to reinstate a B.C. wildlife officer who was suspended for refusing to euthanize two bear cubs in Port Hardy.
Bryce Casavant's pay has been reinstated, The Canadian Press reports, but his suspension is ongoing.
The officer attended a situation at a mobile home where the cubs' mother had to be destroyed after breaking into a freezer at least twice to steal meat. The cubs, believed to be around eight weeks old, were were up in a tree during the event, North Island Gazette reports.
After the cubs were captured, rather than euthanizing them, Casavant took them to a veterinary hospital in Port Hardy and they were later taken to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre.
The petition calling on B.C. Environment Minister Mary Polak to reinstate Casavant collected more than 35,000 names by early Wednesday. Ricky Gervais posted on Twitter, "Reinstate this honourable man."
Bryce Casavant, conservation officer, suspended for refusing to kill bear cubs https://t.co/E6AKvu6Kyd Reinstate this honourable man.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) July 8, 2015
"I think it is important for the community to know that I am here to do the right thing," Casavant told the North Island Gazette prior to his suspension.
According to the gazette, the home's owner seemed on side with Casavant's decision to not put the cubs down.
"It’s immoral to shoot a helpless baby bear, they are nursing still. They are not garbage bears. They are infants," Rob Hodder told the paper.
The bear cubs referred to in this petition are here at the centre, healthy and doing well. We submit the following for your consideration:
Posted by North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre on Tuesday, July 7, 2015
B.C.'s environment ministry said it was investigating the situation, and it's now known what they intend to do about the cubs. The ministry hasn't directly commented on Casavant's actions.
"This is a very sad and unfortunate situation," said Environment Minister Mary Polak in a statement, according to the CBC. "Although conservation officers must sometimes put down wild animals for the safety of the public and the welfare of the animal, we understand how difficult it is for all involved."
In the meantime, the cubs remain at the recovery centre and are doing well, Julie Mackie with the North Island Wildlife Recovery Association told Global News. They have already been introduced to two other cubs.
"They are showing all the good behaviour that we want to see," Mackie told Global. "They are scared if we go anywhere near the pan. They are not showing any friendliness or interest in being near people."
The centre's manager, Robin Campbell, has worked with Casavant for a number of years.
"Bryce has put down bears before, that's not the issue," Campbell told Toronto Star. "Killing something for no reason was the issue."
Campbell explained there was no need to euthanize the cubs because they were never in the house or trailer.
SOURCES: North Island Gazette | North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre | CBC News | Global News
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