For immediate release

Victoria, B.C. (January 27, 2022) – Today, we learned that the provincial
government of British Columbia’s controversial wolf cull was renewed for
another five years despite widespread public opposition and a lack of action
to protect critical old-growth habitat-the root cause of endangered caribou
declines.

Earlier this month, B.C. released its Predator Reduction for Caribou
Recovery Engagement Survey results. Nearly 60% of respondents were against
the wolf cull program. The vast majority of respondents listed habitat
protection (regulating land use), habitat restoration, and habitat
management as the top three preferred actions for caribou recovery.

“The clear intent is to continue the needless scapegoating and killing of
wolves instead of taking essential steps of protecting intact old-growth
forests for endangered caribou while ensuring fossil fuel industries do not
access and fragment this habitat further,” said Ian McAllister, Conservation
Advisor for Pacific Wild. “By safeguarding and restoring caribou habitat,
B.C. would be doing its part in mitigating climate change while also
protecting the full suite of predator-prey relationships that are being
destroyed through short-term greed.”

Additionally, the legality of culling operations is currently before the
courts. These legal challenges include the authority to cull wolves by
aircraft being inappropriately given to regional managers under current
Wildlife Act regulations, and the majority of wolf culling occurring via
civilians (contracted by the government) shooting from helicopters. These
issues were presented to the court in 2021 and we have not yet received a
decision from the judge.

“Since beginning in 2015, the wolf cull program has killed approximately
1,500 wolves,” said Laurie McConnell, wolf campaigner for Pacific Wild.
“Nearly $2 million in taxpayer dollars were spent in 2019 and 2020 to kill
463 wolves, averaging $4,300 per wolf. Horgan’s favouritism to the forestry
industry and wasteful spending amidst ongoing extinction threats to B.C.’s
wildlife is extremely concerning. The government’s approach to this issue
needs to change now.”

Pacific Wild is asking B.C. residents who are opposed to the government’s
decision to contact the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource
Operations and Rural Development, Katrine Conroy (FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca
<mailto:FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca> ) about their concerns.


Media Contact


Nick Voutour
Communications Manager
Pacific Wild
902-809-9030
nick@pacificwild.org <mailto:nick@pacificwild.org>


About Pacific Wild


Pacific Wild supports innovative research, public education, community
outreach and raising conservation awareness to achieve the goal of lasting
environmental protections for the lands, waters and people of the Great Bear
Rainforest and throughout British Columbia.

<https://pacificwild.org/press-release-bc-wolf-cull-approved-for-five-additi
onal-years/?fbclid=IwAR2NSeF9bCTCzCyxIMtcSARq3lh-Jvw_FM0Dbh66dnHLzIOj2ewD4RR
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<https://pacificwild.org/press-release-bc-wolf-cull-approved-for-five-additi
onal-years/?fbclid=IwAR2NSeF9bCTCzCyxIMtcSARq3lh-Jvw_FM0Dbh66dnHLzIOj2ewD4RR
Vdzg> Press Release: B.C. Wolf Cull Approved for Five Additional Years –
Pacific Wild

For immediate release . Victoria, B.C. (January 27, 2022) – Today, we
learned that the provincial government of British Columbia’s controversial
wolf cull was renewed for another five years despite widespread public
opposition and a lack of action to protect critical old-growth habitat-the
root cause of endangered caribou declines. Earlier this month, B.C. released
its Predator Reduction …

pacificwild.org

Please write Minister Katrine Conroy FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca
<mailto:FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca> and your MLA regardless where you live in
BC! All Biodiversity needs help NOW and killing wolves is not the answer by
any stretch!!!