Wildlife Advocates say "Having Palin host a nature program is like having Michael Vick host the Dog Whisperer"
WILLIAMS, OREGON (March 30, 2010) – Today, wildlife advocates urged the Discovery Channel to its scrap plans to air a nature series featuring former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. According to news accounts, Discovery has struck a deal with Palin to produce "Sarah Palin’s Alaska." Big Wildlife, an international wildlife protection organization, said the network’s decision to launch a nature show hosted by "one of the county’s most notorious anti-wildlife, anti-environment voices is highly offensive to those who care about animals."
"Having Palin host a nature program is like having Michael Vick host the 'Dog Whisperer,'" said Brian Vincent, Communications Director with Big Wildlife. "She and the state’s Board of Game served as Alaska’s death panel for countless wild animals. Discovery should pull the plug on Sarah."
As Governor of Alaska, Palin waged a systematic war on wildlife. For instance, Palin:
· Promoted Alaska's aerial hunting program where wolves are shot from the air or chased by airplanes to the point of exhaustion before the pilot lands the plane and a gunner shoots the animals point blank. The program also targets bears.
· Offered a $150 bounty for wolves to entice hunters to kill more wolves in certain parts of the state, with hunters having to present a wolf's foreleg to collect the bounty.
· Through her Board of Game approved the use of poison gas and deadly snares to kill wolf pups and their families in and around their dens.
· Approved the killing of black bear sows with cubs
· Fought efforts to provide endangered species protections to polar bears and beluga whales
· Promoted expansive trophy hunting of grizzly bears
· Advocated opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge – known as America’s Serengeti for its abundant wildlife – to oil development
"Palin may have put Congressional Democrats in her political crosshairs, but she literally put her gun sights on Alaska’s wildlife," said Vincent. "Discovery should 'Donald Trump' Palin and tell her, ‘You betcha’ you’re fired."
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For more information go to: Big Wildlife
Click here to urge the Discovery Channel to scrap the Palin nature series.