Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest is now protected. In „natur“, Germany’s leading nature magazine, I explain what it is all about. Here are some impressions.
In February 2016 the government of British Columbia, Canada, announced a final agreement on the protection of the Great Bear Rainforest. Conservationists, politicians and the forest industry had debated about it for more than two decades. I have accompanied the process as a journalist and wildlife photographer.
I am very happy and feel privileged that I got the chance to experience a very unique environment – that supporters enabled me to climb into the canopy of a 80 meter high Sitka spruce in Carmanah Valley, that I could paddle with the tides through the Inside passage and I once had diner with a spirit bear.
My latest article on the subject is now released in the german magazine „natur“, 07/2016
Thanks to all my supporters and friends especially Wayne McCrory, Arni, Carola, Uli, Martin, Gillian, Juliet and Lydia
The following photos will give you an impression about the wonders of this magic forest world – and how one can enjoy it:
Welcome to the Great Bear Rainforest. Please enter!
A black Kermode bear crossing a bay on Princess Royal Island at high tide
Just at sunset the sky opens a small gap over Vancouver Island.
A Spirit bear shaking off water after a failed attempt to catch a salmon
Orcas crossing Johnstone Straight
Kayakers playing with orcas near Telegraph Cove
Drying equipment after many days of rain in Laredo inlet / Princess Royal Island
Waiting for the bears to show up along the coast
Arni in his first class mobile bear viewing platform
A gull within the rainforest (upper right corner) waiting for a salmon egg to float by.
The coastal mountains seen from Princess Royal Island
A bleached fern frond among Canadian dogwood
rainbow and purple sky over Princess Royal Island
Ghost forest: branches of a coastal hemlock covered with moss and lichen
A spirit bear: cream-colored and yet somehow camouflaged
close but peaceful encounter
Spirit bear checking the shore for washed ashore dead salmon
a friend
bear of fortune: the one who could have killed my dear
Chief Lysichiton, native from Pooley Island
Diving in the Pacific
A pink or humpback salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) – Buckellachs – gets airborne
my one car, my two sandals, my three cubs (well hers)
Do you want to join me?
Who are you?
the beauty of the rainforest
at work: taking photos of salmon
portrait of a Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) – Rotlachs
dinner is ready! – almost
A brown bear crossing a bay at Knight Inlet
brown bear and cub at Knight Inlet
One of the best work places on the planet for sure
an evening guest
young and ambitious, but still not experienced enough to catch a big salmon
Soaking wet, yes. But never regretting, the trip into THE FOREST