6-month prison term to NC man who sold bear organs

[Raven]

SIX MONTH PRISON SENTENCE GIVEN TO NC MAN FOR SELLING BEAR ORGANS

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- A member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for trafficking dozens of bear gall bladders against tribal law.
Multiple media outlets reported Thursday that Clement Calhoun will face a year of supervised release after serving his sentence. Calhoun also is barred from hunting or holding a hunting license. He could have faced up to two years in prison
Prosecutors say Calhoun violated the Cherokee legal code by selling bear parts off the reservation in 2005.
The government says the bile from the bear's gall bladder is prized for its medicinal purposes in some Asian cultures.
Animal experts say the demand for bear gall bladders could threaten North Carolina's large black bear population.

[Thunder]

I personnally know Mr. Calhoun. He lives in Big Cove. He works with the Big Cove free labor group sometimes and would help anyone during an emergency. Having said that,I feel strongly that Mr. Calhoun did not kill 51 black bears in 2005. I believe other poachers sold bear parts too. Mr. Calhoun was the person who had a connection to moving the bear parts, or gall bladders. Bear paws and teeth, and hides are also sold. The killing of black bears has become a way for some to suppliment their incomes. unfortunatly, this comes at a sad and very high price. Native people are supposed to be real conservationists and good stewards of the land and the bounty it provides. This idea flies out the window when Tribal members themselves are the ones irradicating the bear population on the Qualla Boundary. It is sad that with the exception of a couple of elected officials, the rest of them condone this behaviour and a couple of them are doing it too. We live in a small community and we all know what is going on. Chief Hicks during an open meeting, stated that he will not allow a moritorium on the murder of bears. Teresa McCoy stated that something must be done because of the hipocracy. She said that the tourist who come to Cherokee see the beautiful painted bears in town and assume that we honor and respect our wildlife. When in reality we have elected officials who turn thier heads while cubs become motherless or dead too because they have gall bladders, paws and teeth. During the Jan. 7th Council session she held up two pictures of motherless cubs that were captured by the Tribal animal control. They would be dead now if someone hadn't stepped up. She was disgusted that this had to happen at all. Hunting is a sport. Recreation. A priviledge. Cultural and a tradition. What is happening now is Shameful and murder. It is not a Cherokee anything.

[Bill Killian]

I am planning to travel to DC to lobby the USDA to enforce their laws on the bear zoos here. I also plan to bitch about the lack of law enfocement and the poaching that has been allowed to go on with the apparent permission of the two branches of our government and the US Wildlife Service here.
If you are a true Cherokee then you will want to sign the petition I will be taking with me.
There will be more informtion coming.
It has to be stopped. The world is watching us now...

[charon]

Not too long ago, maybe a couple of months, a bear cub was found wondering in or near the casino parking deck. It's mother was seen in the woods nearby. Animal control came and captured the bear cub and did not return the cub to the mother but took it. What happened to the cub I don't know. But why would they take the cub away from the mom when she's right there? Why not capture them both and relocate them together elsewhere? Sounds a little suspicious to me.

[anyonesneighbor]

Poor thing. I hope it survives. Mom is likely heartbroken as well. Dammit they go through the pain of birthing & have it taken away. That stinks!

[Raven]

Originally Posted by charon

Not too long ago, maybe a couple of months, a bear cub was found wondering in or near the casino parking deck. It's mother was seen in the woods nearby. Animal control came and captured the bear cub and did not return the cub to the mother but took it. What happened to the cub I don't know. But why would they take the cub away from the mom when she's right there? Why not capture them both and relocate them together elsewhere? Sounds a little suspicious to me.

Just poppin this back up cause lots of people didnt have theor lights to see. Anyone know where a baby cub might be?

[Grandfather of 3 Cherokee]

On Facebook there is a link to"lilie thebear" hibernating. You can become a fan to that