加拿大與美國野生動物保護人士聯合要求，eBay應禁止網站上張貼嚮導射獵動物的遊程。這些射獵對象包括熊、狼、美洲獅等高等掠食動物。
雨岸保護協會（Raincoast Conservation Foundation）、大野生動物（Big Wildlife）、以及阿拉斯加野生動物聯盟（Alaska Wildlife Alliance）說明 eBay 上 這些提供狩獵嚮導的拍賣事件，將迫害這些野生動物的生存。
雨岸保育基金會駐加拿大卑詩省執行長齊諾瓦力（Chris Genovali），問到：「狩獵嚮導企業主販賣一個謀殺肉食性動物的機會，是否意味著這些肉食動物的價值已經十分低廉容易，好比在 eBay 購買一個廚房器具或是棒球卡那樣的平常？」
舉幾個 eBay 上的拍賣說明：威斯康辛獵熊拍賣提供「黃金狩獵時間點往返誘餌的服務」。另一個阿拉斯加狩獵對象則是黑熊、狼、狼獾；北安大略省則是提供「獲得一個加拿大大黑熊的機會」。
黑熊雖然並未列為加拿大或美國北部瀕危動物，但在路易斯安那州、德州東部、密西西比州南部都受到聯邦瀕危物種法案保護。
或如，灰狼也在四十八個州受到瀕危物種法案保護，除了明尼蘇達州是列為受到威脅物種之外。但在阿拉斯加州，灰狼不在保護法案裡。
2008 年3月，美國漁業暨野生動物局（U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service）決定不要保護狼獾，因為狼獾在加拿大並不是瀕危物種。非營利組織「野生物保衛者（Defenders of Wildlife）」目前挑戰這項決議。
2008年，受到國際動物福利基金提出線上拍賣會幫助非法販售野生動物產品行為的報告影響， eBay 發布全球禁令，拒絕象牙商品的網站販售行為。
正當前3個保育團體表達受到 eBay發佈禁令的鼓舞，但在最近瀏覽 eBay 網站時，卻發現包含灰熊在內的其他肉食動物都被當成獎賞的獵殺成果照片。
他們指出，例如狼的高等掠食動物具有協助調控食物鏈、維持生態完整、保留物種多樣性的功能。牠們的消失將引發生態系中其他物種豐量度的改變，同時也將破壞與其他物種錯縱複雜的連結關係。
這些團體不斷試圖阻止加拿大卑詩省與阿拉斯加對灰雄狩獵獎賞的活動，在這些地方的灰熊面臨危機除了棲地消失、鮭魚數量減少、合法狩獵、盜獵、還包括國際販售行為。
在 2008 年，在加拿大卑詩省已有 430 隻灰熊被獵殺，每年在阿拉斯加有近1,500 隻棕熊與灰熊被獵殺（註一）。甚至有些是在世界著名賞熊景點--凱邁國家保留區（Katmai National Preserve）內被射殺。
「在加拿大卑詩省也是這樣，距離春季狩獵灰熊的活動僅剩七週了，熊與狼在我們省立公園與保留區都是合法的狩獵對象。」齊諾瓦力說著。
「我們希望能夠重新審視大野生動物、雨岸保育以及阿拉斯加野生動物聯盟等團體，對於狩獵嚮導拍賣的意見，並希望進一步與他們展開對話，瞭解他們的擔憂。」eBay一位發言人於2月13日如此告知ENS記者。
「eBay強烈禁止在任何平台販售任何非法的產品，而網站上也有特定的規範強制執行。」
「我們一直都開放與非政府組織的對話，過去也在這些議題上調整我們的政策規定，例如：象牙買賣、獸欄狩獵、或是那些保證能捕到獵物的拍賣。」發言人說。
Canadian and U.S. wildlife advocates are asking that the eBay auction website stop the sale of guided trophy hunts for bears, wolves, cougars and other top predators.
The Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Big Wildlife and the Alaska Wildlife Alliance say eBay auction sales of guided trophy hunts put the survival of these species at greater risk.
"Have the lives of Canada's grizzly bears, wolves and other large carnivores become so cheapened by the purveyors of trophy hunting that selling an opportunity to kill one is now as commonplace as trying to unload a kitchen appliance or baseball cards on eBay?" asked Chris Genovali, executive director of the British Columbia based Raincoast Conservation Foundation.
A quick search on eBay turned up auctions for bear hunting in Wisconsin that offers transport "to and from the baits at prime hunting hours;" an Alaska hunt offering black bear, wolf, and wolverine; and a hunt in northern Ontario that offers the "opportunity to harvest a big Canadian black bear."
Black bears are not classed as endangered in Canada or in the northern United States. Black bears are listed as a threatened subspecies in Louisiana, eastern Texas and southern Mississippi under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Under the Endangered Species Act, gray wolves are listed as endangered in the lower 48 states, except Minnesota, where they are listed as threatened. Wolves in Alaska are not listed under the Act.
In March 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided not to protect wolverines under the Endangered Species Act because wolverines are not endangered in Canada. The nonprofit group Defenders of Wildlife is now challenging this decision.
Last year, eBay announced a global ban on sales of ivory products after an International Fund for Animal Welfare report revealed the online auction site was helping to fuel illegal trade in wildlife products.
While the three groups said they are encouraged by eBay's ban on ivory auctions, their recent review of the eBay website found hunting sales complete with photos of grizzlies and other carnivores killed for trophies.
The wildlife advocates said expansive trophy hunting of top predators ignores the importance these species play in natural systems.
They pointed out that top predators such as wolves help regulate the food web, sustain ecological integrity and preserve species diversity. Their disappearance triggers changes in abundance of other species in an ecosystem and the intricate connections among the remaining species can unravel.
The groups have been working to end trophy hunting of grizzly and brown bears in British Columbia and Alaska. The bears face threats from habitat loss, declining salmon, mortality from trophy hunting, poaching, and international trade in bear parts.
Last year a record 430 grizzly bears were killed in British Columbia. Close to 1,500 brown and grizzly bears are killed annually in Alaska. Some of these bears are shot in the Katmai National Preserve, one of the premier bear viewing areas in the world.
"The same is true in B.C.," said Genovali. "The spring grizzly hunt is only seven weeks away and bears and wolves can be legally shot for sport in our provincial parks and protected areas."
"We look forward to reviewing the communication sent to us by Big Wildlife, Raincoast Conservation, and the Alaska Wildlife Alliance in regards to the sale of guided trophy hunts, and are in the process of opening a dialogue with them to understand their most recent concerns," an eBay spokesperson told ENS Friday.
"eBay strictly forbids the sale of any illegal item for services on all of its platforms and there are specific policies in place that enforce this," the spokesperson said, adding that the company's legal and policy experts
"We are always open to working with NGOs with expertise in these areas and have done so in the past to fine tune our policies regarding issues such as the sale of ivory and the sale of 'canned hunts,' or those that guarantee the killing of a specific animal," said the company representative.
Clickhere for eBay.com full Animal and Wildlife Policy. The recent policy clarification regarding the sale of canned hunts is available here.
- 註一: 動物分類學上，棕熊分為 grizzly bear (U. a. horribilis) 、以及 Kodiak bear (U. a. middendorffi)。但實際上區分這兩種熊並不容易也頗具爭議。 （原文）Taxonomy: While there has been much confusion about the taxonomy of brown bears (Ursus arctos), taxonomists agree there are at least two subspecies in North America -- the grizzly bear (U. a. horribilis) and the Kodiak bear (U. a. middendorffi). There is confusion about whether to consider others, like U. a. gyas and U. a. macfarlani, as separate subspecies. 參考來源:北美棕熊研究中心
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
