Canadian Bear

[Tom270]

I see in the news today Steven Fry is campaigning with PETA to prevent the use of real bear skins in UK military ceremonial hats.
The skins come from legally hunted bears in Canada where the numbers are stated to be dangerously high. The UK imports a hundred skins a year a very small proportion of those culled.
The army argue synthetic materials are not up to the job.
It appears to be another case of not understanding control of numbers for the habitat although Canada is a big place.
If we are looking at trophies not being imported but we can import skins it's a bit odd to me. The bear is not shot for its skin as such its to control numbers but why waste it.
The argument goes on to say mother bears are baited to shooting sites with biscuits. I assumed bears don't have preditors but a bit more simple research from their National Parks shows many bears are killed by other bears particularly cubs, also by avalanche and starvation. A thorny issue.

 

[finbar]

He a pompous prick should stick to trying to be funny
All the lovies are the same like to preach

 

[shakey jake]

do we need giant hats any more? surely the normal combats the squaddie already has would save a fair few quid?

 

[BenBhoy]

The army argue synthetic materials are not up to the job

Not up to what job exactly, if they're just ceremonial?? Seems bit OTT for bit of prancing about "look at how shiny my buttons are".

 

[Julian S]

Be interesting to see if he owns any leather goods, his harnesses for his "games" are probably PVC ,but if he uses leather at all he is a pompous hypocrite

 

[Tom270]

Apparently they get 50 to 100 a year at £650 a time

 

[Herb64]

He a pompous prick should stick to trying to be funny
All the lovies are the same like to preach

He’d find that impossible to do. He never was and never will be.

 

[doric_prince]

By product of a cull that, if confirmed, would appear to occur for other welfare and safety reasons. So why not utilise the by product?- sorry, whats your problem caller (I.e mr fry)?

p.s I respect mr frys’ comedic efforts in black adder, just not interested in his other views thanks.

 

[Andrewslater]

do we need giant hats any more? surely the normal combats the squaddie already has would save a fair few quid?

I think its important we keep them, all the while we keep the crown anyways.

 

[chriswjx]

Was going to post about this as well...

As far as I know, those bears are going to get shot regardless of whether those skins get used or not.

Reading the BBC article, the PETA/Fry argument seems based on two points:

1) The culling is driven by trophy hunters.

2) The bears are culled in a cruel/unsporting manner. (Shooting over bait and shooting/wounding by bow/crossbow)

Considering the cull is (as far as I am aware) a Canadian gov. mandated/regulated thing, point 1 of their argument is a load of bollocks.

I am not up on bow hunting enough to make any judgments about the 2nd point. Although I would be inclined to say that shooting over bait sounds a bit like fish in a barrel etc.

 

[Freeforester]

Just stop plastic, oh wait….

 

[RescueMe0007]

My understanding is that the "privilege" of wearing the Bear Skin head dress for the British Guards regiments was awarded for their performance at Waterloo (in emulation of Napoleon's Old Guard). It has a significant tradition and contributes to the esprit des corps of the regiments. Why on earth would one remove them after two hundred years just to satisfy the woke, virtue signalling of a pratt like Stephen Fry. Why is his opinion of any particular value.

 

[Apthorpe]

do we need giant hats any more? surely the normal combats the squaddie already has would save a fair few quid?

So would abolishing the armed forces, the entire public sector and the welfare state in its entirety.

 

[shakey jake]

So would abolishing the armed forces, the entire public sector and the welfare state in its entirety.

a well formulated retort.
other than pomp, do the bear skins serve any purpose?
im sure people are proud to wear them ut are they any less proud to wear a berret?

 

[tackb]

a priveledge earned by those regiments , bugger all to do with peta or lord melchett

 

[Dickie]

But if the British army stopped having them would it change the Canadian cull NO.
Another jumped up celebrity thinking his opinion is important. probably enhanced by a cheque from Peta.

 

[BenBhoy]

Another jumped up celebrity thinking his opinion is important.

That's all subjective though - whenever we (shooters/hunters/bumpkins) hear a celeb (Vinnie Jones, Ian Botham, Clarkson etc) supporting our way of life, or backing British game & venison, we are quick to applaud & hope everyone hears this celebrities opinion. Swings & roundabouts.

 

[Dickie]

That's all subjective though - whenever we (shooters/hunters/bumpkins) hear a celeb (Vinnie Jones, Ian Botham, Clarkson etc) supporting our way of life, or backing British game & venison, we are quick to applaud & hope everyone hears this celebrities opinion. Swings & roundabouts.

While I agree with you.
If he looked into the facts before spouting off, The skins are a product of a cull which will happen, suggesting a synthetic alternative using a chemically made alternative doesn't seem very 2024.
So it looks like trooping the colour will be in berets then.

 

[Julian S]

When I lived and hunted bear in BC Canada there were 1000s of black bears shot every year, stopping using the skins for hats will make absolutely no difference to the amount shot each year. Get a life Fry ,and get rid of your leather goods.

 

[deerstalker.308]

I see in the news today Steven Fry is campaigning with PETA to prevent the use of real bear skins in UK military ceremonial hats.
The skins come from legally hunted bears in Canada where the numbers are stated to be dangerously high. The UK imports a hundred skins a year a very small proportion of those culled.
The army argue synthetic materials are not up to the job.
It appears to be another case of not understanding control of numbers for the habitat although Canada is a big place.
If we are looking at trophies not being imported but we can import skins it's a bit odd to me. The bear is not shot for its skin as such its to control numbers but why waste it.
The argument goes on to say mother bears are baited to shooting sites with biscuits. I assumed bears don't have preditors but a bit more simple research from their National Parks shows many bears are killed by other bears particularly cubs, also by avalanche and starvation. A thorny issue.

More like 1200 a year but still, it’s a byproduct of wildlife management and the meat is eaten widely, so not wasted.
I heard the lady from PETA saying how it was unthinkable that bows and arrows could be used with these things called “broad heads” which are hideous things designed to expand internally causing huge trauma….. guess she’s not aware of how to kill something quickly and humanely? I wish someone had asked her what her shoes, car seat or handbag were made of….