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Throughout bear
range there is a reoccurring issue related to orphan bear cubs. Cubs
are often orphaned either when the mother is killed in an accident
or a hunting situation, or when a female is forced from her den by
disturbance (such as forestry, recreation or hunting activity)
during winter and abandons her cubs. The issue relates to what to do
with the orphaned cubs? Should they be kept alive, and if so what
should be their ultimate fate? Keeping them alive and hand raising
them is an issue of animal welfare rather than conservation.
However, the issue of if they should be released or not has a direct
bearing on conservation and is very controversial. At present, the
recommendations from most experts is that they should not ever be
released into the wild. |
