Editor:
I am writing to you in response of your editorial “Wildlife trolling a dangerous activity” in which you are addressing the issue of wildlife being harassed by wildlife photographers, resulting in the habituation of wildlife in Banff National Park.
The 2010 publication Adaptive Strategies of wild wolves in the Bow Valley of Banff National Park — A review of wolf behaviour patterns in a human dominated environment by wolf specialist Guenther Bloch and carnivore specialist Mike Gibeau from the University of Calgary explains the common misconception and confusion made between habituation and adaption, based on the longest running wolf behaviour observation study conducted by Bloch for over two decades.
In context with the explanation of German ethologist D. Feddersen-Petersen from 2004 that: 1) adaptation as “a characteristic which increases individuals’ overall fitness through adjusting or conforming” and 2) habituation as “a learning process, in which individuals stop reacting to stimuli that have no consequences,” the Bow Valley wolves use of infrastructure (road, rail tracks, ski and hiking trails) is often wrongly classified as habituation, while the wolves actually show adaptation to their specific environment.
This however cannot and shall not excuse the actions of some individuals with cameras in Banff National Park that are following wildlife on foot for images. But these individuals are not professional photographers who make a living off their images, which is a major difference compared to images obtained in an ethical way for the purpose of education, information and sale, showing natural behaviour.
But why should foreign visitors be treated different and have the right to stop right next to a grizzly, get out the car, approach it, holler and whistle at it to turn around for images, and local visitors should step back and watch it happen?
It is a matter of common sense to not approach an animal that can severely hurt or kill a person simply by running a person over if it gets startled and wants to get out of a situation or feels threatened and defends itself or offspring.
Every visitor that pays for a park ticket should be held accountable for his/her actions equally, no matter if a professional photographer, amateur photographer or tourist. So far I could not see any comment in the Parks rules and regulations that makes a distinction due to a visitors origin if an animal is harmed or harassed, so neither Parks Canada nor the RMO should accept wildlife harassment, just so that people get a visitor experience at the costs of animals well-being.
Parking along the road in a safe distance without leaving your car to photograph an animal is not habituation, not even if the animal decides to close the distance or pass the car close by for a short time.
Serious nature photographers know about these issues and are often the first to report incidents or talk to people approaching bears or other animals, because they are out and have an interest in the animal being there still tomorrow.
Hendrik Boesch,
Calgary
