Eating Paws is Not a Bear Necessity

Don't eat bear paws in Canada! It's illegal folks!

Some habits from the old country die hard, like eating bear paws and shins.

A 52-year-old man from Abbotsford, British Columbia pleaded guilty to charges under the Wildlife Act in Port Coquitlam Provincial Court today.

Originally Hong Tao Yang faced five counts, but agreed to plead guilty to two charges of trafficking in bear parts and one charge of trafficking in wildlife meat. The remaining two charges were stayed.

Yang was fined C$8,625, the statutory minimum for the three offences, and has 18 months to pay the fine.

In 2022 he bought bear paws from an undercover officer who warned him that buying bear parts was illegal. Yang paid C$100 for four bear paws and asked for bear shins in the next transaction, which was the following year.

After the third transaction in 2023, Yang was arrested.

In court the defence said Yang wanted the bear paws and shins because of Chinese beliefs in the medicinal and health benefits in consuming bear parts. He said Yang bought the bear parts for his family and that they "were cooked and consumed in traditional-style treatments".

Ever since the Zhou dynasty (1046-256BC), bear parts were considered highly prized ingredients that were eaten by emperors and nobles. Apparently bear paws were braised with ingredients like ginger, chicken, duck, chicken broth, rice wine and scallions. According to the recipe, the bear paws have a strong gamey smell, and the hair and bones need to be removed too. Hard to imagine how delicious that would taste...

As for Yang, he tried to ask the judge to reduce the amount of the fines, claiming he was suffering financial hardship.

However, the judge did not agree, as it was pointed out Yang has a net worth of over C$1 million, most of which is from a home he owns in Abbotsford...