B.C. animal rights group says rare spirit bear should be released

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – An animal rights group is calling for the release of a rare spirit bear, which is currently in a wildlife park in the province’s Interior.

The 18-month-old kermode bear, which carriers a rare genetic trait that turns its fur creamy white was recently relocated to the B.C. Wildlife Park in Kamloops after conservation officers determined the animal wasn’t a good candidate for relocation.

The male cub, dubbed Clover, was captured, rehabilitated and released by a northern B.C. group, but was trapped again just months later when it continued to stay near humans.

The Vancouver-based animal rights group Lifeforce has written an open letter to the premier, asking the province to free the bear and describing the park as a “jail.”

The group says the spirit bear — B.C.’s official animal — should not be exploited, and it insists the animal can be released.

But the manager of the B.C. Wildlife Park, Glenn Grant, says the kermode is too friendly to humans and wouldn’t survive if it was released into the wild.