Radio-collared grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) in Kananaskis Country; Alberta.

Meet the new Project Canada mascot: a grizzly bear on the Smith Dorrien/Spray Trail in Kananaskis Country.

The odd combination of elements that make up this image characterizes the situation concerning the natural values and the human role in the natural system in an amazingly striking way. The grizzly, one of the strongest symbols for wilderness, shows that nature is still strong here. Complete ecosystems, including megafauna and specifically large predators are rare in the 'developed' world, but they still exist here. However, especially in some parts, nature finds ever more barriers and obstacles in its way. Sometimes, with considerable risk, these barriers can be crossed, but some cannot. Roads are a striking example of this, but even narrow trails through a forest can be an uncrossable barrier for some species.

The radio collar around the bear's neck might be the most interesting part of the image. On one hand it represents the will of humans to study, understand and conserve nature. The data gathered with these collars gives information about where bears prefer to be, which in turn can help determine which areas should be protected most to conserve the species. On the other hand it is hard to see the mighty grizzly with such an obvious and potentially irritating collar on  without at least a small frown, because this symbol of wilderness is obviously not completely wild anymore. The control of humans reaches even that far. A propos, the mother grizzly that can be found here used to have such a collar, but when it was removed just weeks before that photo was taken, the researchers found several infections on the skin underneath it.

Along with controversy, there is balance in this image. A balance that is fragile. A balance that can be disturbed beyond repair if we are not careful with the way we allow development in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. But as long as balance still exists, there is hope of retaining or even strengthening it. If we make the right decisions, the still very diverse natural system in the Canadian Rockies can be preserved. Things will never be the same again as they were 300, or even 30 years ago, but there is still hope that wilderness will survive!

Image number: ASP0091AWMC