Sad sight: skinny grizzly bears in Canada roam in search of food

Emaciated and hungry grizzly bears roam in desperate search of fish on the coast of Canada — and this is a month before they are supposed to hibernate. And all because due to the sharp warming, the population of their main source of food - salmon - has decreased. Photographer Rolf Hicker took these shocking shots on the coast of the province of British Columbia.

We are used to seeing bears well—fed - especially before they should go into hibernation. This is how a normal healthy bear should look like. But you can't look at the bears desperately wandering in search of food off the coast of Knights Inlet on the coast of Canada without tears.

Local bears are starving due to a shortage of salmon. According to professional fishermen, this year British Columbia has seen the worst salmon catch in the last 50 years.

The population of these fish is affected by human activity — salmon farming, which pollutes the water and leads to diseases among the fish; as well as climate change, which has increased the water temperature, which has contributed to a reduction in the population. There is absolutely no salmon left for the local grizzly bears, and this is the basis of their diet.

Mother bear with two exhausted cubs in search of food

For comparison, bears in Alaska are preparing for winter in abundance of salmon, and local reserves publish photos of happy well-fed bears with might and main. The situation in Canada, on the contrary, is far from causing a smile. The Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada reports that the country's climate is getting warmer twice as fast as the global one, which is beginning to seriously affect wild salmon populations.

Local organizations have already begun to take action: recently, the Mamalilikulla First Nation charity company fed the starving bears from Knights Inlet. Approximately 500 salmon carcasses donated by a local fish factory were scattered along the coastline, where grizzlies are often found.

Meanwhile in Alaska: happy fat bears are swimming and eating salmon with might and main

The grizzly bear population has declined dramatically over the past few years, especially in British Columbia. This is due to hunting and the reduction of the natural habitat. The lack of a stable food source, salmon, can be another factor threatening the grizzly population.

One of the bears in July and September 2019. That's how much weight bears should gain in the fall, before hibernation

Social advertising of the Katmai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska: "Just a kind reminder. Well-fed bears live only in clean water and healthy ecosystems"