First, second and third is why can't we figure out ways to track things with less obtrusive instruments? These things thay put on penguins, sharks, dolphins and all animals are so bulky. It seems like they are so annoying for anything to wear that we have to track for whatever reason
In the meantime, the University of Alberta must use their resources to track Andy, remove the collar, and get him the medical attention he needs. Adding your voice to this petition will let them know that we are holding them accountable for Andy’s well-being, and that we will accept nothing short of immediate action.
An article on Andy was published in Canada confirming that he was involved in a University of Alberta study. It appears that everyone is aware that Andy was collared as part of a University of Alberta study except for the University and Derocher. It's time the University of Alberta and Andrew Derocher take responsibility for Andy's suffering.
The article states, "If in fact this is a bear that was collared for University of Alberta research, this would be the first time our researchers have seen this happen to one of their collared bears." Unfortunately, injuries and infections from collaring polar bears occurs far too often. So often in fact that scientists refer to polar bears with injuries from collars as "stinkers" because of the smell from their infection.
Dr. Nikita Ovsyanikov, a Russian wildlife biologist has stated that "collars are no longer necessary and their continued use is slowing development of less invasive technology."
While Andrew Derocher and the University of Alberta disregard the severity of Andy's situation, we have and will continue to raise public awareness for Andy and all other polar bears that are negatively effected by invasive research methods. At this time we are working with locals to spread the word of Andy's situation and life-threatening injuries. We are asking them to be vigilant and to report any potential sightings as soon as possible. We are also planning a protest at the University of Alberta to pressure them to take accountability for their actions and demand that the ethics committee fully review the study that Andy was involved in as well as all current and future studies that involve collaring polar bears. As soon as the date/time is determined, an event page will be created, posted, and emailed.
A polar bear named Andy is in trouble, and he needs our help.When he was not yet full-grown, Andy was fitted with a tracking collar by researchers. As he has grown, the collar has malfunctioned -- it stopped transmitting a signal, and, last month, a photographer captured a photo of Andy with evident trauma around his neck from the extremely tight collar with a release mechanism that has clearly failed. Andy’s life is at risk.
US and Canadian authorities were alerted to Andy's situation, but so far no one is taking action or claiming responsibility for the collaring. Evidence suggests that it was likely the University of Alberta that placed the collar on Andy, yet all they have said in response to recent public pressure to help him is “options to find the bear are being examined.”
Time is running out, and we need to take real action. We are calling on the University of Alberta to immediately institute an active search for Andy, so they can remove the collar and provide all necessary treatment to ensure his well-being.
Locals in the area of Alaska where Andy was last seen have complained about polar bears with too-tight collars for years. Complications from collaring occur far too often, as the collaring process involves stressful chases, harmful sedation, and sometimes causes death. Collaring of polar bears is invasive and dangerous and there are simply far too few of this majestic species left to play with their lives.
It is true that Andy is just one polar bear, and scientists may see his plight as “collateral damage” in the interest of research for the good of all polar bears. But there is no justification for his strangulation, and research institutes that endeavor to capture and collar threatened species must be held responsible for their health and well-being.
In the meantime, the University of Alberta must use their resources to track Andy, remove the collar, and get him the medical attention he needs. Adding your voice to this petition will let them know that we are holding them accountable for Andy’s well-being, and that we will accept nothing short of immediate action.
If you would like to voice your concern for Andy please email the Executive Director of the Research and Ethics Office Susan Babcock and Professor Andrew Derocher
LETTER TO
University of Alberta
Andrew Derocher
An article on Andy was published in Canada confirming that he was involved in a University of Alberta study. It appears that everyone is aware that Andy was collared as part of a University of Alberta study except for the University and Derocher. It's time the University of Alberta and Andrew Derocher take responsibility for Andy's suffering.
The article states, "If in fact this is a bear that was collared for University of Alberta research, this would be the first time our researchers have seen this happen to one of their collared bears." Unfortunately, injuries and infections from collaring polar bears occurs far too often. So often in fact that scientists refer to polar bears with injuries from collars as "stinkers" because of the smell from their infection.
Dr. Nikita Ovsyanikov, a Russian wildlife biologist has stated that "collars are no longer necessary and their continued use is slowing development of less invasive technology."
While Andrew Derocher and the University of Alberta disregard the severity of Andy's situation, we have and will continue to raise public awareness for Andy and all other polar bears that are negatively effected by invasive research methods. At this time we are working with locals to spread the word of Andy's situation and life-threatening injuries. We are asking them to be vigilant and to report any potential sightings as soon as possible. We are also planning a protest at the University of Alberta to pressure them to take accountability for their actions and demand that the ethics committee fully review the study that Andy was involved in as well as all current and future studies that involve collaring polar bears. As soon as the date/time is determined, an event page will be created, posted, and emailed.
Response from Andrew Derocher
Andrew Derocher has responded via e-mail to our concerns. After reviewing his statements, I have sent him a list of questions/concerns. Please see my response and his original email below.
The most concerning of all statements is that Andrew says that he knew about the faulty collars “several years ago”. While he reports that he no longer uses the collars on juvenile bears, he still continues to use the defective collars on adult bears.
**Please take a minute to tell Andrew Derocher and Susan Babcock (Executive Director of the Research Ethics Office) to immediately stop collaring bears of all ages and sexes as the collars are defective and unreliable.
derocher@ualberta.ca, susan.babcock@ualberta.ca
MY RESPONSE WITH QUESTIONS/CONCERNS:
Mr. Derocher,
Thank you for your response. I have several questions/concerns regarding your statements.
1. You state that authorities were not notified of the issue until it was too late. This is an interesting statement considering the photo of Andy was taken on a Saturday and the alarm was given by telephone two days later while Andy was still in Kaktovik. The reason for the two day delay was because the office/phone is not manned on the weekends. It may be true that you were not made aware of the situation but please do not spread misinformation that the authorities were not contacted in time.
2. You report that the bear was in “good condition” and "behaving normally" when last sighted. We have reports from eye-witnesses that Andy was lethargic and not socializing with the other bears. In fact, the only time he was seen socializing was when another bear (the other one in the photo) came up to him briefly.
3. Your statement that this bear is not being choked and the red material is from the bear feeding on whales is especially concerning. How can you be so confident to make such a statement? Please provide the pictures that you speak of. You collared this bear when he was very young and rapidly growing. He has had the collar on for AT LEAST 4 years. It is not that difficult to conclude that a growing bear with a collar on for most of his life is experiencing life-threatening injuries from being choked by the tight collar. I am appalled that you would make such a statement given that you repeatedly express your concern for Andy. Again, please provide the pictures you are saying that you have seen.
4. You report that you are uncertain of the origin of the collar. I would like to point out several facts: Environment Canada has confirmed that Andy was collared under a University of Alberta study. The studies that you speak of collared male bears however all of the collars have been removed or confirmed as having dropped off these bears. That leaves you and the University of Alberta as the responsible parties.
5. The most concerning statement that you make is when you report, “Several years ago, I became aware that the release mechanisms were not 100% reliable and thus, I stopped collaring juvenile polar bears”. Why only juvenile bears? If the collars are faulty, they should not be put on ANY bear regardless of age and sex.
I ask that you immediately stop collaring bears of all ages and sexes as the collars are defective and unreliable. Please respond to these concerns and provide the photographs that you speak of.
ORIGINAL RESPONSE FROM ANDREW DEROCHER:
"Dear Ms. Kjonso,
Sorry for not responding sooner but I was off e-mail and flooded by e-mails about the collared bear and I just found out that you had e-mailed me requesting information.
So far, I've managed to respond to each person that has e-mailed me.
I will try to provide some additional insights on this bear.
I too am concerned about the bear in question and efforts will be made to remove the collar when the bear is resighted. There are significant challenges to do so at this time given that the bear has left the area, is likely travelling on very thin ice, and it is almost 24 hours of darkness now. The bear is likely hundreds of kilometres from its last known location. The authorities in Alaska were not notified of the issue until it was too late to respond this autumn. I was not informed until 2 weeks after the last sighting. The bear, however, was in good condition (based on photos I have seen) and was behaving normally when last sighted (playing with other bears). It was feeding on carrion in the area. The bear is not being choked and the red material is likely from the bear feeding on bowhead whales left from subsistence hunting in the area. I have seen photos showing the bear with no material around the collar. Bears wearing collars often have material on their fur as they can’t keep the area as clean. Bears feeding on these whales are often very dirty. Polar bears have hair on their necks 4-5 cm long and all collars compress this fur so appear to be tight. We won’t know if it is injured until we catch the bear and remove the collar. We remain uncertain of the origin of the collar as there was a University of Wyoming, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Geological Survey project ongoing in the area at the same time as my research. Both studies collared male polar bears using similar methods. Nonetheless, it may well be a bear that I collared and thus, I am committed to doing what I can.
None of the above diminishes the need to remove the collar from the bear to ensure it can continue on its normal path in life. I appreciate and share your concerns. I will do everything that I can do in association with colleagues in the USA and Canada to remove the collar. Polar bears scientists are now reviewing the release mechanisms used to ensure release within short time should the electronic release fail.
I have spent years studying polar bears and working to protect them for future generations. I would never intentionally or knowingly do anything to harm them. I agree fully that this bear deserves every effort to assist him. I am committed to doing so.
You will find some additional on the situation herehttps://uofa.ualberta.ca/science/research-and-teaching/research/polar-bear-q-a
There is a plan in place to assist this bear. US based researchers with the US Geological Survey and US Fish and Wildlife Service will search for him when the sea ice thickens and daylight returns. I cannot undertake such an operation in Alaska. If the bear is in Canada, I will do whatever is possible to remove the collar when it is seen again. From the outset, I have offered resources to US based scientists to catch the bear but government officials in the USA and Canada deemed this impractical - I was not party to these discussions and only learned of the situation after the fact.
Several years ago, I became aware that the release mechanisms were not 100% reliable and thus, I stopped collaring juvenile polar bears. I have no plans to ever do so again. Technology can fail and thus, it was too risky to collar growing bears. My research, has also moved to non-invasive methods as technology allows.
If you wish any further information, please contact me.
Best regards,
Andrew Derocher"
The most concerning of all statements is that Andrew says that he knew about the faulty collars “several years ago”. While he reports that he no longer uses the collars on juvenile bears, he still continues to use the defective collars on adult bears.
**Please take a minute to tell Andrew Derocher and Susan Babcock (Executive Director of the Research Ethics Office) to immediately stop collaring bears of all ages and sexes as the collars are defective and unreliable.
derocher@ualberta.ca, susan.babcock@ualberta.ca
MY RESPONSE WITH QUESTIONS/CONCERNS:
Mr. Derocher,
Thank you for your response. I have several questions/concerns regarding your statements.
1. You state that authorities were not notified of the issue until it was too late. This is an interesting statement considering the photo of Andy was taken on a Saturday and the alarm was given by telephone two days later while Andy was still in Kaktovik. The reason for the two day delay was because the office/phone is not manned on the weekends. It may be true that you were not made aware of the situation but please do not spread misinformation that the authorities were not contacted in time.
2. You report that the bear was in “good condition” and "behaving normally" when last sighted. We have reports from eye-witnesses that Andy was lethargic and not socializing with the other bears. In fact, the only time he was seen socializing was when another bear (the other one in the photo) came up to him briefly.
3. Your statement that this bear is not being choked and the red material is from the bear feeding on whales is especially concerning. How can you be so confident to make such a statement? Please provide the pictures that you speak of. You collared this bear when he was very young and rapidly growing. He has had the collar on for AT LEAST 4 years. It is not that difficult to conclude that a growing bear with a collar on for most of his life is experiencing life-threatening injuries from being choked by the tight collar. I am appalled that you would make such a statement given that you repeatedly express your concern for Andy. Again, please provide the pictures you are saying that you have seen.
4. You report that you are uncertain of the origin of the collar. I would like to point out several facts: Environment Canada has confirmed that Andy was collared under a University of Alberta study. The studies that you speak of collared male bears however all of the collars have been removed or confirmed as having dropped off these bears. That leaves you and the University of Alberta as the responsible parties.
5. The most concerning statement that you make is when you report, “Several years ago, I became aware that the release mechanisms were not 100% reliable and thus, I stopped collaring juvenile polar bears”. Why only juvenile bears? If the collars are faulty, they should not be put on ANY bear regardless of age and sex.
I ask that you immediately stop collaring bears of all ages and sexes as the collars are defective and unreliable. Please respond to these concerns and provide the photographs that you speak of.
ORIGINAL RESPONSE FROM ANDREW DEROCHER:
"Dear Ms. Kjonso,
Sorry for not responding sooner but I was off e-mail and flooded by e-mails about the collared bear and I just found out that you had e-mailed me requesting information.
So far, I've managed to respond to each person that has e-mailed me.
I will try to provide some additional insights on this bear.
I too am concerned about the bear in question and efforts will be made to remove the collar when the bear is resighted. There are significant challenges to do so at this time given that the bear has left the area, is likely travelling on very thin ice, and it is almost 24 hours of darkness now. The bear is likely hundreds of kilometres from its last known location. The authorities in Alaska were not notified of the issue until it was too late to respond this autumn. I was not informed until 2 weeks after the last sighting. The bear, however, was in good condition (based on photos I have seen) and was behaving normally when last sighted (playing with other bears). It was feeding on carrion in the area. The bear is not being choked and the red material is likely from the bear feeding on bowhead whales left from subsistence hunting in the area. I have seen photos showing the bear with no material around the collar. Bears wearing collars often have material on their fur as they can’t keep the area as clean. Bears feeding on these whales are often very dirty. Polar bears have hair on their necks 4-5 cm long and all collars compress this fur so appear to be tight. We won’t know if it is injured until we catch the bear and remove the collar. We remain uncertain of the origin of the collar as there was a University of Wyoming, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Geological Survey project ongoing in the area at the same time as my research. Both studies collared male polar bears using similar methods. Nonetheless, it may well be a bear that I collared and thus, I am committed to doing what I can.
None of the above diminishes the need to remove the collar from the bear to ensure it can continue on its normal path in life. I appreciate and share your concerns. I will do everything that I can do in association with colleagues in the USA and Canada to remove the collar. Polar bears scientists are now reviewing the release mechanisms used to ensure release within short time should the electronic release fail.
I have spent years studying polar bears and working to protect them for future generations. I would never intentionally or knowingly do anything to harm them. I agree fully that this bear deserves every effort to assist him. I am committed to doing so.
You will find some additional on the situation herehttps://uofa.ualberta.ca/science/research-and-teaching/research/polar-bear-q-a
There is a plan in place to assist this bear. US based researchers with the US Geological Survey and US Fish and Wildlife Service will search for him when the sea ice thickens and daylight returns. I cannot undertake such an operation in Alaska. If the bear is in Canada, I will do whatever is possible to remove the collar when it is seen again. From the outset, I have offered resources to US based scientists to catch the bear but government officials in the USA and Canada deemed this impractical - I was not party to these discussions and only learned of the situation after the fact.
Several years ago, I became aware that the release mechanisms were not 100% reliable and thus, I stopped collaring juvenile polar bears. I have no plans to ever do so again. Technology can fail and thus, it was too risky to collar growing bears. My research, has also moved to non-invasive methods as technology allows.
If you wish any further information, please contact me.
Best regards,
Andrew Derocher"
