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The 'Kermode bear' is a genetically-unique subspecies of bear found in the central coast of British Columbia. Kermodeis are noted for the appearance in their gene pool of a recessive trait that gives a small percentage of their population white or cream-coloured coats. They are neither albino nor related to polar bears, instead being a color phase of the American black bear. The white bears are known as 'Spirit bears' or 'ghost bears' and have a place in the native mythology of the area.
The Kermodei subspecies ranges from Princess Royal Island to Prince Rupert Island on the coast, and inland toward Hazelton, British Columbia. It is named by the indians because Kermodei means white bear. In the February 2006 speech from the throne by the Government of British Columbia, the premier announced his government's intention to designate the Kermode or Spirit bear as British Columbia's official animal.

Contents

Coat color

Conservation

References

External links

Coat color

In 2001, it was reported that a single nucleotide replacement in the melanocortin 1 receptor gene (mc1r) is responsible for the coat color of the Kermode bear. Scientists sampled the DNA from 220 bears and found a complete association of a recessive allele with the white phase. ^[1]

Conservation

The habitat for the Kermodei bear has been under threat from logging. As of February 2006, the government of British Columbia has brokered a land-use agreement with environmental and First Nations groups and with the logging industry to protect 18,000 square kilometres of land, including one of the largest intact temperate rainforests in the world; the home of the Kermodei bear. The agreement will limit forestry in the area and help support eco-tourism. However, in September of 2006, logging began in the Green Watershed, a critical area of Spirit Bear habitat that was not protected under the land-use agreement, but the logging plan for the watershed was overseen, and agreed upon by several environmental groups, including Green Peace.
Simon Jackson founded the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition, a conservation campaign that is now one of the largest youth conservation groups in the world. A feature film has been made about the spirit bear—'' and a further animated film, ''The Spirit Bear'', is in production.

References

1. Inheritance and population structure of the white-phased “Kermode” black bear, Kermit Ritland, Craig Newton, and H. Dawn Marshall, , , Current Biology, 18 September 2001

External links

★ Spirit Bear Youth Coalition

★ Valhalla Wilderness Society - Spirit Bear

★ Kermode Bear Photos

★ NRDC Campaign to save spirit bear habitat in British Columbia

★ Canada's "Spirit Bears" Gain Perilous Popularity

★ Working to protect habitat for the Spirit Bear The Nature Conservancy