Famed primatologist and environmentalist Jane Goodall is joining activists in protesting the hunting of grizzly bears in Wyoming. Anti-hunting advocates are buying tickets to the state-wide lottery, where randomly chosen applicants will receive a license to kill one grizzly bear – with a total of 22 bears set to be slaughtered.
Goodall has joined forces with Cynthia Moss, a woman well-known for battling elephant poachers and opposing trophy hunting in Africa. Both women are part of a rapidly growing grass-roots movement called “Shoot ‘em With A Camera, Not A Gun.”
Animal lovers throughout the state and beyond are aiming to overload the hunting lottery system with thousands of applications from non-hunters. It is hoped that with enough support, it will be enthusiasts armed with cameras, not guns, who head out in search of grizzly bears when the season begins later this year.
Started by a small group of passionate locals in Jackson, Wyoming, the concept quickly went viral, with grizzly advocate Ann Smith surprised by the upswelling of support.
“What stunned me is the number of positive calls I’ve received and 85 to 90 percent have come from women,” said Smith.
This year’s grizzly hunt in Wyoming will be the first in 44 years, with Wyoming’s wildlife commission approving the killing of 22 bears as a means of “population control.” This is in spite of the fact that most people in Wyoming are opposed to trophy hunting. It was only one year ago that grizzlies were removed from the endangered species list.
It costs only $20 to enter the grizzly bear lottery. However, those who score a license then have to pay for a “tag.” The price comes in at $602 for residents of Wyoming and $6002 for people living outside of the state.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $34,000. Funds will be used to help any non-hunters who win the lottery, by paying the costs to participate in the “hunt” – with a camera instead of a gun. Organizers say any remaining funds will be used to continue the Shoot’em With a Camera campaign.
Genius, Thankyou…
Jane Goodall, you are GOOD – you are great!! Thank you!
What a great idea! Good luck you wonderful lovely people. x
PLEASE STOP KILL THE MOTHER BEAR AND HER BABIES BEARS
Had not thought of this great idea of buying hunting licenses up so hunters cannot shoot innocent animals …. please provide more information and spread the word!
Once the biologist say a certain number of animals need to be thinned, that is going to happen, one way or another. If sport hunters do not accomplish tjis, then professional hunter will be hired. If peoplr truly want to protect the grizzly, they need to propose a yrap and release program, and fund it.
I love this woman we need more like her
Such a wonderful idea! Thank you .
This is so wonderful. Majority of people don’t want the Grizzlies murdered. Taking a Mother from her babies is so wrong on many levels. Animals are not trophies.
These are beautiful people helping the Bears , we have no right to treat the Bears this way
A big Thankyou to all involved in trying to save them
Save bears and ban hunting !
The main reason animals need to be ‘controlled’ is because there are too many humans on the planet, always encroaching on wildlife habitat. Put your time and money into controlling the human population, birth control by sterilization or limitation…NOT abortion. Don’t allow humans to build in wilderness areas, They don’t need to live on the mountain, in the forest, on the river.That’s where the animals live. In other words, hunting wouldn’t need to happen if the human race wasn’t so greedy and egotistical.
If you think everyone wants to live in a concrete jungle, you are badly mistaken. Did you ever hear of Manifest Destiny? Man will expand his range, and is exploring space and the oceans now, just for that. Like it or not, that is the way it is, and noone can change that.
This is great news! Too many of our wonderful beautiful wildlife is being killed by greedy rich hunters! This must end. There must be laws against trophy hunting! Please demand it.
BRAVA! Brilliant — as only resourceful, kick-ass women can be. It’s activism like this that makes the negative side of the Internet bearable. (Ha! No pun intended !)
Hunting is barbaric.. so is fishing..Im glad these people are doing what they are doing..these beautiful bears do not deserve to be sliaughtered. its wrong..they need to be put back on th protective list..Trump needs to stop messing with nature
The only good hunter is a dead one.Hunt the hunter.Well done Jane Goodall and other animal activists.You are fantastic!!!!
AGREE!!!!!
Threatening hunters will put you on the short end of the stick. This deal by Goodall will not work, because the biologist will control the bear population one way or another. This woman would better serve her cause by developing a program to trap and relocate the bears to the Artic Wilderness are in Alaska.
Keep up the great work
Animal activism at its finest!
hunting and cattle, that is all Wyoming cares about.
You forgot sheep.
That is so amazing! I’m glad Miss Goodall is such an animal lover to do this wonderful thing for the grizzlies. You go Jane!!
Good ideA,
There is a better way than shooting the Grizzly, who just got off the endangered list, to control the population.
Excellent and a good win for the bears, thanks to all who care
How wonderful! I hope the grizzly hunters will get overrun by these great people. I am in Australia, but I will try and give some money to the GoFundMe page.
I am tired of the population control excuse that hunters use to validate their love of killing animals. Nature provides population control if left to her devices. I love what these people are dang and hope it will work. Animals should not ever be killed to boost the egos of people or provide room decor.
Kate, grizzly are Apex predators, with man their only threat. Man is the only population control there is for grizzlies. These bears will be killed or possibly moved. I vote to support moving them.