DESCRIPTION
This gentle, very rare sub-species of the black bear has won my heart.
He lives in the beautiful temperate rainforest of  B.C. and is uniquely Canadian.
At first glance you may compare the "Spirit Bear" to an artic polar bear,
but our white bear is much smaller, rarely exceeding 400lbs. Neither is he an Albino.
Two black bears must both carry this particular recessive gene in order to produce a white off-spring.
The Kermode Bear is a very lovable and gentle animal which, like any other wild animal
would only attack if its cubs were in danger or if it were starving to death.

HABITAT
On Princess Royal  Island, where they have lived for thousands of years, there is a
very high concentration of these rare white bears, probably because of the islands isolation.
.The range of habitat is from Princess Royal Island to East Hazelton, Terrace and Prince Rupert Island.

RAVENS DECREE
The native Tsimshian tribe who once lived on Princess Royal Island,
call the white bear Moksgm'ol. This is the explanation of their legend:
In the beginning of time, the world was white with ice & snow.
Then the Raven came from heaven and made the world green, as it is today.
But he wanted to make something to remind himself of the beginning and its whiteness.
So on this Island, this special piece of paradise, he went among the black bears and
every tenth one he made white.
That way he could remember the world as it was.
Then the Raven issued a decree:
"The white bears would live here forever in peace"

PROTECTION OF  HABITAT
I , for one,  believe that the "Raven's Decree" will guarantee the safety of the Spirit Bear
on Princess Royal Island. The island has a  10,000 year old forest which is
home to this very rare Canadian Kermode bear.
On 4th. April 2001 the provincial government announced the ban on
logging in the entire Great Bear Rainforest. All sides have agreed to this new plan.
This area will be protected, which includes the habitat of the Spirit Bear
I want to help in my own way. I will be donating large numbers of the open edition prints
to the official sponsor(s) of this project on an "ongoing basis".
The profits will be used to maintain and protect the Sanctuary of the 'Spirit Bear". I
hope to really make a difference and wish to create a sanctuary on Princess Royal Island.

MY VISION OF AN TOTALLY PROTECTED INTERNATIONAL SANCTUARY

If you would like to help the spirit bear please consider donating to the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition

donations@spiritbearyouth.org

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spirit bear painting by judi wild
creating a sanctuary