Ursa Freedom Project

inspiring collaboration for bear conservation

Members

  • Didier EUZET Composer
  • Paula
  • Liddy
  • Pierre Demeure
  • Fundación AndígenA
  • Theresa Humphrey
  • Peter
  • Jen Riley
  • Barbara Murray
  • Patrick Morgan
  • Angelique Moselle Price
  • Robert Bourassa

Music

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Member ACTIONS

Genevieve Hamelin has created a french website for bear awareness and information sharing. Her site explores how bears are represented through art and culture, and includes drawings, paintings and photos to help us better understand the species. You can translate the site into English. Genevieve's website features UFP on her site.

Angela Devlin celebrates her birthday on January 29. She set up a charity cause on facebook asking friends to donate to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre to make her birthday wish come true.

Ursa Freedom Project has selected the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre as its charity cause for 2010, so my birthday wish for the sun bears is also on facebook. Raising money to save orphaned sun bear cubs through a birthday wish is pure joy for everyone. So jump on the bandwagon and make a birthday wish for the world's smallest bear.

UFP member Gerhard Kaiser celebrated his birthday on December 24th and made a Birthday Wish for Charity on facebook. HIs chosen charity? Ursa Freedom Project. UFP routed the donated money to Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) to support their efforts to rescue bears from bile farms. AAF was the charity cause for UFP in 2009.

Kelly McKenna, UFP member and founder of Bear Necessity Korea, appeared on the radio show Seoul Report to discuss the important role moon bears have played in Korea's history, and to inform audiences about how they are treated today. Less than 20 moon bears remain wild in Korea's forests, compared to the 1,600 moon bears that are held captive on bear bile farms, where they are tortured for their bile to make Asian medicine. Kelly's radio segment aired internationally on January 2.

When Cynthia Silk joined UFP she made a public commitment to "support UFP and spread the word about this site to as many people as possible." Cynthia has created a Cause page and special group for UFP at Spirit Channeler and Metaphysical Realm.

UFP member Sandrine created this piece of art. See more original works of art in our Art for the Bears photo album under the Resources tab.

Raincoast purchased a 24,000 sq km Guide Outfitting Territory in 2005 to end the commercial trophy hunting of grizzlies, black bears and wolves. They plan to do it again in 2010, and they need our help.

UFP Member Sandra Miller raises funds for panda conservation through sales of her one-of-a-kind jewelry. She visits panda centers and says, "My goal at the panda centers is to get more details about new breakthroughs in panda conservation." Sandra also raises funds to save moon bears from bile farms and fund conservation programs for critically endangered Asian Elephants. Watch Sandra's video and read about her inspired actions on her profile page.

After 20 years since it was held in Chicago (USA), the International Symposium on the Andean Bear was held in Lima, Peru November 8-14, and with great success. Read more.

Deepak Chopra speaks against British Columbia's Trophy Bear Hunt while speaking for the wisdom and wonder of nature and her affect on our soul.

Stop local and internet wildlife crimes involving Vietnam wildlife. Report anything suspect to ENV so they can take action.

Raincoast Conservation is advocating for British Columbia's first fully protected salmon runs.

The move is an effort to save the grizzly bear species. This bold and ambitious proposal runs contrary to the historical underpinnings of salmon management, as fisheries managers have always assumed that salmon exist exclusively for human consumption.

According to Raincoast, it is a matter of competition, and the odds are stacked against carnivores in these coastal salmon forests.

Help save a moonbear's life. Visit the group Save Miracle the Bear. Artwork by Sandrine

Groups

About UFP

Ursa Freedom Project is an independent project driven by people who are passionate about conserving bears and their habitat.

UFP mission
Ursa Freedom Project collaborates with others to give voice to the world’s bears through story and art so they may grow into a larger collective destiny with humans to heal their circumstances.

UFP focus
Six of the world’s eight bear species are threatened with extinction as a result of human activities. Even "least concern" species such as the brown bear are at risk of extirpation in certain countries. Many threats face each bear species, making strategies for local conservation necessary.

UFP strategy
UFP collaborates with organizations and individuals to assist on-the-ground conservation efforts in local communities. We enfold bears into story so their voice is heard and validated -- an act that allows bears to be received into culture and their lives transformed through acceptance. UFP advocates to conserve bears and their habitat and to free bears from persecution and exploitation by unleashing the power of knowledge and collective visualization to open hearts to understanding, wisdom, compassion and tolerance.

Story behind the name Ursa
Ursa Major (the Great Bear) is the third largest constellation in the sky. What is most familiar are the seven stars which make up the rump and tail of the constellation; we know them as the Big Dipper.

One Greek myth tells that the nymph Callisto, a servant of the hunter Artemis was made to bear a child by Zeus. Artemis banished Callisto for impurity.

Artemis gave birth to the child named Arcas. This made Zeus' wife Hera very jealous and, in revenge, Hera turned Callisto into a bear which ran away into the forest.

Arcas grew up to become a hunter. One day while he was hunting, the bear Callisto heard Arcas' voice and rushed to greet her son. Arcas, not knowing the bear was his mother, was about to kill her when Zeus intervened and sent both mother and son into the sky as the Greater and Lesser Bears.

Zeus grabbed them by their tails and flung them into the sky, and that is why these two bears have long tails.

Today, most of us need to use a lot of imagination to see the bear; however, cultures around the world have always turned to story to better understand the world and the role humans play in it. from starryskies.com

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Blog Posts

Siew Te Wong

It all started with an email…

Back in April 20th 2009, I received an email from Dr. Audrey Low, a Malaysian lecturer and educator based in Australia. Like many others who contacted me out of the blue, she had been following my blog about the works we done in BSBCC for some time. From her sincere email, she offered her help as a Borneo specialist, anthropologist, and nature lover, etc., anything that I can think of, as long as she can help. She also mentioned her Australian hubby, Howard Jackson, is a filmmaker who also teach… Continue

Posted by Siew Te Wong on January 31, 2010 at 11:27pm — 5 Comments

Barbara Murray

Pacific Wild 2009 Newsletter from Denny Island, B.C. from Ian McAlllister

Pacific Wild 2009
Dear Pacific Wild supporters,
When deciding to start a new non-profit focused on wildlife conservation,
we knew that it would take a lot of work, especially during tumultuous economic times. We also knew that it was not enough to rebrand; we had to rethink our conservation goals and how we deliver environmental protection.
The threats to the coast have never been greater. But just because campaign strategies worked before did not mean they would work again. We wanted passion an… Continue

Posted by Barbara Murray on January 29, 2010 at 9:48pm — 1 Comment

Sandra Miller

Travel with me and help adopt a panda...LIVE from China, Feb. 7/8

LEARN MUCH MORE ABOUT OUR CHINA TRIP STARTING FEBRUARY 6TH HERE





As if being a part

Continue

Posted by Sandra Miller on January 29, 2010 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

Erica Curtis

Ursa And The Internet

Several months ago I set up a "google alert" using Moon Bears and Bear Bile Farming as the keywords.
This means that whenever these subjects are mentioned in reports or blogs Google sends them to my e-mail address helping me keep up with what is happening around the world for the Bears and the news reports which are going out.
Ursa Freedom Project started coming through towards the end of last year and now almost every other day I am finding messages from google with links to Ursa Freedom Projec… Continue

Posted by Erica Curtis on January 27, 2010 at 1:26am — 1 Comment

Kelly Frances (McKenna)

Korea Begins taking measures to protect travelers, though much the turtle in the race.

Korea Begins taking measures to protect travelers, though much the turtle in the race.

For the past year, the animal welfare community has eagerly anticipated an educational campaign from immigration, targeting those traveling to Vietnam who may, ignorantly or otherwise, be involved in illegal tours to bear bile farms. As part of Green Korea United’s (GKU) 2009 agenda, meetings with the Korea Tourism Organisation were planned to introduce them to the issue of illegal trade/tourism in bear bile.… Continue

Posted by Kelly Frances (McKenna) on January 25, 2010 at 8:48pm

Andy Wright

Stop the Trophy Hunt - An Update from B.C



Week one - 700+ Signatures

A huge vote of thanks to the members of Bearsmatter.com and the UrsaFreedomProject for supporting the first week of the campaign which preceeds the big launch in early february - your contribution is so important. Just think if every member who has signed so far helps by asking ten… Continue

Posted by Andy Wright on January 23, 2010 at 7:00pm — 2 Comments

Maren Dallmann

PLEASE HELP LIBERATE BERLIN'S BEARS FROM THEIR BEAR PIT

Incredible as it may seem but there are still 2 European brown bears living in a bear pit in Berlin. They are mother and daughter and have been there since their birth (1981 and 1986). The Born Free Foundation are working hard on getting the bears moved to a santuary but so far nothing much has happened. BFF started a letter writing campaign a couple of weeks ago. I wrote and got a slightly more positive response than BFF got originally. Now at least they are allegedly thinking about moving the… Continue

Posted by Maren Dallmann on January 23, 2010 at 11:52am — 2 Comments

State of the Bears

Lilly, a wild 3-year-old black bear, gave birth while people around the world watched the birth on the Internet. While most first-time litters include one or two cubs, after nearly 22 hours of labor, Lily gave birth to a single cub on January 22, 2010. Many people have suggested names for the cub. Go to Lilly's website and read more or glimpse into Lilly's den.

Giant pandas are rare in the wild, but seeing a giant panda with brown fur instead of black is nearly unheard of. When a brown and white panda cub was discovered in China in November, it became the seventh ever observed. While it is not certain what causes the variation, new research suggests that it might be the result of inbreeding which would have serious implications for the viability of the giant panda population in the wild. Read more.

Watch the film "Green" to understand biodiversity in relationship to forests. Understanding biodiversity is crucial for many reasons, including that 2010 is International Year of Biodiversity. The movie is a free download, and you can post it on facebook and send it to friends. Spread the word about this feature film released at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival.

UFP has a support group for each bear species. Choose a bear. They all need our help.

Street artists perform in India to spread awareness on sloth bear conservation. Continuing their efforts to spread awareness on the plight of sloth bears to reduce illegal trade, the Wildlife Trust of India and the World Society for the Protections of Animals began the second phase of their sloth bear campaign in Orissa on January 9. The campaign aims to reduce trade in sloth bear cubs and body parts by educating and alerting people residing near sloth bear habitats through street plays and cultural programs. Photo Wildlife Trust of India

As of December 2009, 18 of mainland China’s 31 provinces and districts have committed to remaining bear-farm free and rooting out any hidden bile farms, according to Animals Asia Foundation. This means that more than half of China is now free of the bile industry and committed to saying that way. These 18 areas represent 52 per cent of China's population and 71 per cent of its land mass. Photo Animals Asia Foundation

The goal of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) is to promote the conservation and restoration of the world’s bears through science-based research, management and education.

Freedom to Roam is a collaborative initiative to create continental corridors so that wildlife can survive throughout North America. Read one young grizzly bear's story of his 50-mile odyssey to cross a freeway to return home, where he was raised as a cub. Photo Freedom to Roam

Events

January 6

Wednesday

January 8

Friday

February 6

Saturday

April 22

Thursday

April 25

Sunday

June 6

Sunday

Forum

Wildlife Warrior

FINDING ALTERNATIVES TO BEAR BILE

Herbal Alternatives to Bear Bile - WSPA

Started by Wildlife Warrior in Bear conservation Feb 4.

Geneviève Hamelin

About bears

I am French and I love bears : if you want write to me go on my website : http://www.surlespasdesours.fr

Started by Geneviève Hamelin in Bear conservation Jan 24.

jordan schaul

mailing lists 1 Reply

There are two mailing lists that I recommend joining, as an advisor to the AZA Bear TAG. One is open to the zoo community and people involved more indirectly with conservation education and breeding…

Started by jordan schaul in Bears in captivity. Last reply by Jeanette McDermott Jan 26.

Maren Dallmann

Moon Bear Rescue in Vietnam 1 Reply

Hi everyone I posted this on the Moon Bear Support Group's discussion board, but thougth I should share it with all really. I had an email update from Animals Asia first thing this morning. They res…

Started by Maren Dallmann in Bear conservation. Last reply by Maren Dallmann Jan 20.

Rebecca

World Animal Day 11 Replies

Dear UFP members, My name is Rebecca and I am German UFP Ambassador and also German WORLD ANIMAL DAY Ambassador. World Animal Day was started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a…

Started by Rebecca in What's on my mind. Last reply by Rebecca 8 minutes ago.

Jeanette McDermott

Hope for Sun Bears 1 Reply

A new facility, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), is being built in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, in response to threats that are driving the sun bear species to extinction: human activit…

Tagged: Malaysia, sunbears, Conservation, Borneo, Bornean

Started by Jeanette McDermott in Bear conservation. Last reply by Jeanette McDermott Jan 7.

Latest Activity

Great, I will have you added. Thanks, Geneviève! :)
8 minutes ago
Max Millionz MAX MILLIONZ ENTERTAINMENT AGENCY, INC. WEBSITE IS BACK UP. www.maxmillionz.com
10 hours ago
Dear Rebecca Thank you very much; I'll add the logo on my website and the ladies of WAD can add my website if they agree with . No problem I can help you when you want Beary regards
11 hours ago
Livi Balta, Thierry EUZET, Aníbal Nazzaro and 1 more joined Ursa Freedom Project
14 hours ago
I have compose a music to the Polar's Bears... I hope that other composers do like me for support the Bear species from extinction...
14 hours ago
Thank you!
15 hours ago
Welcome to the group with your beautifulls songs Jade. And happy to can help the Jeannette cause action. Didier
18 hours ago
Will take action! Thanks for letting us know, Wong!
18 hours ago
22 hours ago
Dear Geneviève, Thanks for your reply. I really think that people know about WAD and that it is celebrated in October. We should not spend so much work on spreading the word about the date etc. as there is a huge team working for WAD (including myse…
23 hours ago
Thank you both. I'll write to the Secretary General as well
yesterday
Also new development on how you can help. You can write to our ministers to highlight the issue and ask them to take action. They need to see how people feel, not just NGOs. YB DATO SRI DOUGLAS UGGAH EMBAS uggah@nre.gov.my Minister of Natural Resou…
yesterday
I just received word from PETA today about this; here is their statement: We haven't gone public with the full details of our investigation yet because legal actions are still pending, but we have blogged about the animal seizure and the custody hea…
yesterday
Kay Carter Researched alternate herbal forms of artificial bear bile.
yesterday
Kimberly Benton and Christel Elrod joined Ursa Freedom Project
on Monday
Rebecca I like your idea for a Worl animal day.If I can help you. I am French and I like very much bears. I saw that you also have a logo to defend bears and biodiversity like Jeanette. Where can I have this logo to put in my website : http://www.s
on Sunday
 
 

Translator

Follow UFP on Twitter

Birthdays

Birthdays Today

Notes

Meet UFP Member, author Else Poulsen

Else Pou

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Created by Jeanette McDermott Feb 12, 2009 at 10:42pm. Last updated by Jeanette McDermott Nov. 17, 2009.

Smiling Bears by Else Poulsen

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Created by Jeanette McDermott Nov 16, 2009 at 10:25pm. Last updated by Jeanette McDermott Nov. 17, 2009.

Photos

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Learn More

We have a responsibility to protect the rights of generations, of all species, that cannot speak for themselves today. Wangari Maathai

Conservation issues related to bear species decline
Habitat loss
Wildlife trafficking and trade
Salmon Declines
Climate Change

Ethical issues related to bear species decline
Trophy hunting
Bear baiting
Bile farming
Den hunting
Nuisance killings

Six of the eight bear species live in Asia, making this region critical to bear conservation. Download the pdf to learn how understanding Asian bears can secure their future.

Trafficking bears and their parts for use in traditional Asian medicine is decimating wild populations of bears.

Unless urgent reforms are introduced quickly, many species face an irreversible fate: extinction. There are over 50 herbal alternatives to bear bile for use in TCM. Download the WSPA pamphlet Herbal Alternatives to Bear Bile.

The Wild Salmon Center monitors and reports on issues related to wild salmon and the grizzlies and other large predators that rely on them for survival.

Guillaume Chapron manages up-to-date and rigorous information on his carnivore conservation website.

Within these eco portals are key people and organizations that are working to heal Mother Earth.

Smithsonian Zoogoer has great stories about bears and their wild relations.

The natural environment provides the basic conditions without which humanity could not survive. The Convention on Biological Diversity promotes nature and well-being.

Download the Educator's Guide to Biodiversity and engage in dialogue about teaching youth about our wondrous Mother Earth.

The IUCN Red List is a key conservation tool. Download the pdf to learn more.

"The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be to prevent future extinctions," says Dr Jane Smart, Head of IUCN's Species Programme. "We now know what species are threatened, what the threats are and where we have no more excuses to watch from the sidelines." Learn more about bears on the IUCN Red List of Threatened and Endangered Species.

Hunted for sport, shot for their fur, killed for their gall bladders, farmed for their bile, used as 'dancing bears' and used in circuses ... their habitat is being destroyed. They need our protection. ~ WSPA
Bears of the World
Bear Facts
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