The coastal ghost

[ ENG below ] Loup côtier, Région du Grand Ours (Colombie-Britannique, Canada). Les loups côtiers habitent les îles les plus isolées et la côte de la Région du Grand Ours. Ils se nourrissent essentiellement de ressources provenant de l´environnement marin. Protéger la côte de cette région unique, c´est protéger une multitude d´espèces qui dépendent de l´environnement marin. Plus d´infos bientôt ! Grâce à mon expérience avec ces loups, j´ai toujours pensé qu´ils étaient élusifs. Ils le sont clairement, mais parfois la nature offre des spectacles incroyables. Un immense merci à mes amis locaux pour ces expériences difficilement descriptibles. -- Coastal wolf of the Great Bear Rainforest (BC, Canada). Coastal wolves are living on the most remote islands and the coast of the Great Bear Rainforest. They mostly feed on marine resources. Protecting the coast of this unique coast is also protecting numerous species that depend of the marine environment. More information soon ! Following my experience with these wolves, I always thought that they are elusive. They sure are but sometimes nature can offer some great encounters. A world of thanks to my coastal friends for these indescribable moments.

Solo

Orca in the Great Bear Rainforest of Canada.

Meeting with a legend

[ ENG below ] Ours Kermode de la forêt pluviale du Grand Ours, Canada (Colombie-Britannique). Partager une photo qui me tient à cœur est toujours difficile, c´est le cas pour les photos des ours Kermode (ours esprit). C´est une chance incroyable de pouvoir rencontrer ce fantôme de la Région du Grand Ours sur le territoire des Premières Nations. C´est un symbole pour les communautés autochtones, et ca les photographes l´oublient parfois... Le Kermode ne peut pas être un trophée. L´ours Kermode habite une poignée d´îles de Colombie-Britannique. Leur pelage blanc-crème est le résultat de l´expression d´un gène récessif: seulement quelques dizaines d´ours Kermode existeraient. Un immense merci à mes amis locaux pour ces moments inoubliables. -- Kermode bear of the Great Bear Rainforest, Canada (BC). Sharing a picture that is dear to my heart is always tricky; it´s the case for the pictures of Kermode bear (Spirit bear). It´s an special opportunity to meet the ghost of this coast on the First Nations territory. It´s a symbol for the local communities and photographers tend to forget it... The Kermode is not a trophy. The Spirit bear inhabits few islands of British Columbia. Their cream-colored fur is due to a recessive gene: only few dozen of white bears might live along this coast. A world of thanks to my coastal friends for these unique moments.

Humpback feast

#Humpback #whales and their unique bubble feeding behaviour in the Great Bear Sea of #Canada - right on the proposed route for oil #tankers. (This picture was taken from the shore) The recent oil spill on the shores on #Vancouver shows that British Columbia does not have the "world class" response scheme. Oil tankers can not go through the Great Bear Sea. This region is unique because of its people and its biodiversity. We have to #protect all of this.

Island of seals

No, these seals are not "lazy". Seals need to haul-out mostly during mid-days hours for several reasons: thermoregulation, social interaction, avoiding predators, resting, etc.

Great Whale Sea

Typical view of the Great Whale Sea: humpback blow and the Great Bear Rainforest as background. This picture was taken right on the proposed route for oil tankers. How can we think bringing tankers in these pristine waters?

The boss

Spirit bear (Kermode), Great Bear Rainforest of Canada (BC). Probably one of the rarest bear of the planet: it is said that there are around 250 spirit bears in the wild. They are black bears with a creamy-white fur due to a recessive gene. This male is truly outstanding and each of his entrance in the landscape is a moment that I can hardly describe. Every year, he is back in the same river to feast on salmon before the next winter. Along this coast, many top predator species are feeding on salmons: bears, wolves, killer whales, sea lions, etc. And even the trees are getting nutrients from the remaining dead salmons brought in the forest by predators. To protect the Great Bear Rainforest, we have to protect the wild salmon with a sustainable management of the stocks and to limit the development of massive industrial activities. A world of thanks to my coast friends for these unique opportunities.

Visitors

Our boat is anchored in a small and remote inlet along the coast of the Great Bear Rainforest in #Canada where we are fishing some crabs for the next dinner. We got surprised by a group of harbour porpoises. The scenery was spectacular: high mountains with the typical fog, calm flat water and a very special light. I could not resist to grab the camera...

Morning

Morning view in the Great Bear Forest

Path

Close-up of a humpback whale while taking a breath along the shore. Sightings from the land are always great moments: no one is disturbing the whales and they are just showing their natural behaviour.

Forest Spirit Bear

[ ENG below ] Ours esprit (Kermode), territoire Tsimshian au coeur de la forêt pluviale du Grand Ours, Canada (Colombie-Britannique). Il y a dix ans je partais pour la première fois en Colombie-Britannique. Je n´imaginais pas alors que c´étais le début d´une aventure remplie d´amitié qui allait m´amener face à face avec des endroits et des animaux dont je rêvais tellement. Grâce à l´aide de mes amis d´une Première Nation, j´ai pu découvrir leur unique territoire. Une poignée d´îles de Colombie-Britannique, qui sont au coeur du territoire Tsimshian, abritent l´un des ours le plus rare de la planète. L´ours esprit - ou Kermode- est un ours noir porteur d´un gène récessif qui produit ce pelage de couleur blanc-crème. Il existerait seulement quelques dizaines d´ours esprit, il est urgent de protéger cette unique côte. Un immense merci à mes amis locaux pour me faire découvrir leur territoire. -- Spirit Bear in the Tsimshian Territory at the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest (BC, Canada). Ten years ago I traveled for the first time to British Columbia. I did not know that it was the very beginning of an amazing adventure full of friendship that would show me places and animals that I was dreaming of. Thanks to my friends from a First Nation coastal community, I had the chance to discover their territory. Few islands of the Great Bear Rainforest in the Tsimshian territory are home to one of the rarest bear of the planet. The Spirit Bear is a black bear carrying a recessive gene producing this white-creamy fur. It is said that only few dozens of Spirit Bears inhabit these islands: it is important to protect this unique coast. A world of thanks to my coastal friends for these special moments in their territory.

Coastal companions

This picture was taken along the outer islands of the Great Bear Rainforest, one of the last remaining coastal rainforest in the world. This area is full of several species of birds and marine mammals. The more we explore this place; the more we are amazed by its diversity.

Warm welcome

The first steps in a river of this coast are always exciting. You never know what is behind the next rocks or the next trees. This region is one of the last remaining unspoiled temperate rainforest of the planet, hopefully it will never change.

Patience

Waiting for wolves in a untouched spot of the Great Bear Rainforest of Canada. Lots of howlings but not a single sighting. Wolves are hard to see but spending time in this untouched spot was amazing. This area deserves to be protected from the dirty oil industry of central Canada: we can not accept oil tankers in such a place.

Dive

Humpback whale in the Great Whale Sea, along the coast of Northern British Columbia in Canada.

Spirit of the coast

Spirit Bear (Kermode) along the Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia (Canada). I will never be grateful enough to my First Nations friends for sharing with me their culture and these unique moments during my visits in their territory.

Sea Lions

Stellar Sea Lions of the Great Bear Rainforest, Canada (BC). The Great Bear Rainforest is home to thousands of Stellar Sea Lions. As a highly sociable species, they gather by hundreds on few islands to rest, breed and give birth. Before being officially protected, Sea Lions were intensively hunted to protect the salmon commercial fisheries. Today the overall census is increasing but the Sea Lions are still under many threats such as entanglement in fishing gears, pollution, and other human activities that are disturbing them.

The blow

[ ENG below ] Le souffle typique d´une baleine à bosse en territoire Tsimshian au cœur de la Forêt pluviale du Grand Ours (Canada, Colombie-Britannique). Cet énorme souffle était exactement ce que l´on cherchait pour en obtenir un bon échantillon. Retour de mon 6ème voyage à la rencontre de mes amis locaux et de cet incroyable territoire. Des tonnes de rencontres, d´observations et de discussions... Un endroit invraisemblable... -- The typical bushy humpback whale blow, Tsimshian Territory in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest (Canada, BC). This massive blow was exactly what we were looking for to get a good sample. Back from my 6th trip to meet my coastal friends and their unique territory. Tons of discussions, sightings and encounters with the people and wildlife I cherish the most. A very special place...

Coastal wolve

Marine resources are essential for these wolves. They spend lot of time on the shore and along rivers foraging for potential preys coming from the marine side of this coastal rainforest (beached marine mammals, salmons, crustaceans, etc.). After looking for these wolves for a long time, one of them finally came out of the forest. A very special moment in a place that we have to protect.

The Great Whale Sea

It is always very special to witness such a show from the shore. This day, the whales were performing and not a single boat was in the area. It was exactly how this place should be: the Great Whale Sea can not tolerate heavy marine traffic with oil tankers.

Night scenery

Moon and milky way over the Great Bear Sea, Canada

Kermode

A very special and rare animal: the Kermode Bear. A symbol of this coast.

Sea wolf

[ ENG below ] Loup côtier en Territoire Tsimshian, au coeur de la Forêt Pluviale du Grand Ours (Colombie-Britannique, Canada). Des hurlements soutenus avant même le lever du jour annoncaient que la meute était là. C´est seulement après quelques heures qu´un loup solitaire sortit de la forêt pour inspecter la côte. Comme une sentinelle, il chercha attentivement de la nourriture pour disparaître dans l´épaisse forêt, probablement pour rejoindre les siens. Quelques secondes d´émotions intenses. Cette image prend tout son sens pour illustrer ces incroyables loups. Génétiquement et morphologiquement différents des loups continentaux, ces loups de mer habitent forêts et îles isolées de la Région du Grand Ours. Ils se nourrissent essentiellement de proies venant de l´environnement qui les entoure: l´océan. Cadavres du large, palourdes et même saumons sont leurs mets favoris. Protéger cette côte de nos activités industrielles, c´est protéger le peuple Tsimshian dont la culture est basée sur le respect de la nature. Protéger cette côte, c´est aussi protéger une multitude d´habitats et d´espèces. Protégeons cette unique côte. Un immense merci à mes amis locaux pour ces moments inoubliables sur leur territoire. - -- - Coastal wolf from the Tsimshian territory, in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest (BC, Canada). With intense howlings, the pack marked its presence even before the first lights. It´s only after few hours that a lone wolf came out of the forest to carefully forage for food, like a sentinel sent by the rest of the pack. It rapidly disappeared into the dense forest after few minutes. Intense seconds of gratitude. This picture makes sense to illustrate the ghost of this coast. Genetically and morphologically different from continental wolves, sea wolves inhabit forests and isolated islands of the Great Bear Rainforest. They naturally feed on preys from their surrounding environment: the ocean. Carcasses from offshore, clams and even salmons are part of their diet. Protecting this coast from our industrial activities means protecting the Tsimshian people whose culture is based on the respect for the nature. Protecting this coast also means protecting a multitude of habitats and species. We have to protect this unique coast. A world of thanks to my coastal friends for these special moments within their territory.

Pure

Sunset along the Great Bear Rainforest, right on the proposed route for oil tankers.

One step at a time for this coast

January 2016, one more win for the Great Bear Rainforest Of Canada. After decades of fight, first nations and NGOs are celebrating a major win to protect the Great Bear Rainforest of large scale human activities. The Government of British Columbia announced that 85% of the region is now under a special management plan. The Heiltsuk Council (one of the first nation community) declared: "We are grateful for a step down the right path. It is the first of many miles yet to walk.". Exactly: one step at a time and we will see one day the Great Bear Rainforest fully protected from logging, tankers and trophee hunting. This coast, its people and its biodiversity deserve it.

Bubbles

Late evening in the middle of the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia, #Canada. Using the famous bubble net feeding technique, two humpback whales are having their "dinner" along the calm and sunny coast (for once... :)). This technique is unique and can bring up to 15 whales feeding together. But even with two of them, the show is really special to witness. The whales were close to shore and you could feel how hungry they were before to have a long travel to warmer waters. A unique moment that we all want to happen again: we can not accept #oil #tankers in this area: for these whales and for the #coastal communities.

Bald eagles

Magic happens. Sitting next to the river for hours to wait for large mammals such as bears and wolves, two bald eagles finally came right on top of me. They were literally looking at me and checking what I was for quite a long time.

One less salmon for the ocean, one more salmon for the rain forest

[ ENG below ] Ours noir, territoire Tsimshian au coeur de la forêt pluviale du Grand Ours (Canada). Un saumon en moins pour les océans mais un de plus pour la forêt. Le plus souvent les ours emmènent leurs prises dans la forêt pour y manger discrètement. Chaque année, une immense quantité de cadavres y sont ainsi laissés et des nutriments sont distribués et mis à la disposition d´une incroyable flore. Un transfert de nutriments de l´océan vers des forêts millénaires tout en nourrissant de multiples espèces de prédateurs. Des processus naturels qui parfois, vont au-delà de notre imagination. Un immense merci à mes amis locaux pour ces moments uniques sur leur territoire. Je rentre avec des tonnes d´images et d´histoires, soyez prêts ! -- Black bear in the Tsimshian territory in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest of Canada, BC. One less salmon for the ocean but one more for the forest. Bears are usually moving their catch to the forest to feed discretely. Every year, a vast quantity of salmons carcasses are melting in the forest, making available nutrients for this awesome flora.It´s a transfer of nutrients between the ocean to the millennial forests, while feeding many predator species. Complex natural processes going way beyond our imagination. A world of thanks to my coastal friends for these special moments in their territory.

From the shore

Every year, humpback whales are back in the cold and peaceful waters of the Great Whale Sea to feed and so to get ready to travel to the breeding grounds, around the tropic.

Coastal companion

In the Great Bear Rainforest, Northern ravens are following your everywhere you go. A very intelligent bird and also one of the symbol of the first nations culture.

Highlight

Spending finally some time with the Spirit bear is clearly one of the highlight of 2015, an amazing gift from my friends living in this unique region.

Solitary dancer

Humpback whale along the Canadian mainland, Northern British Columbia. The perfect and typical scenery from Northern British Columbia: calm waters, good light conditions and of course some whales in the area. A special place in the North Pacific waters, that does not need oil tankers and pipelines. First nation communities and wildlife need a healthy environment, they don't need tankers.

Wilderness

The northern coast of British Columbia, Canada, is one of the most pristine wilderness areas of North America.

Witnessing

Sitting on a rock along the northern coast of British Columbia (#Canada), one of the most amazing show from wildlife is happening right in front of us. For few hours, my colleague and me will be the unique witnesses of a playfull group of orca. These animals were rolling on each other, breaching, chasing birds, ... . Trust me, you never want this kind of moment to end! This picture was taken on the proposed route for oil tankers in the Great Bear sea in Northern British Columbia. This population of killer whale is of course dependent of the good environmental status of its habitat. We cannot accept that oil tankers will use this sea as corridor to export oil abroad.

The salmon

Last minutes of life for this salmon, it will not escape the claws and teeth of this experienced bear... But it´s the beginning of a new cycle: the bear will feed on it and the remains will be consumed by many other species of the forest. For example, the decomposing salmon bodies will release a lot of nitrogen to the forest, it will boost many vegetal species. The Kermode bear is a black bear carrying a recessive gene producing this creamy-fur. There are probably a few dozen of this "white bears" and they are essentially living on few remote islands of British Columbia. Protecting the Pacific salmon means also to protect a whole region: from the First Nations communities to the hundred years old trees including one of the rarest bear of this planet!

Scenery

Humpback whale along the wild coast of Northern British Columbia, where the Great Whale Sea meets the Great Bear Rainforest.

Rest

Rainy and windy week end, let´s take it easy like these harbour seals love to do it...

The Great Whale Sea

Offshore the Great Bear Rainforest, here is the Great Whale Sea.

Mirror

Cloud forest

[ ENG below ] L´immensité de la forêt pluviale du Grand Ours, Canada. Victoire pour les grizzlis de Colombie Britannique au Canada. Lorsqu´ils sortiront de leur hibernation au printemps prochain, ils ne seront plus traqués par les chasseurs. La province a annoncé une interdiction totale de la chasse. Un pas de plus vers la protection de cette unique côte. Il y a encore beaucoup à faire, espérons le meilleur pour 2018 ! -- The immense Great Bear Rainforest, Canada. Such a huge victory for the grizzly of BC. When they will wake up from hibernation next spring, they will be safe! The Government announced earlier this week a total ban of trophy hunting in the whole province. One more important step towards the protection of this unique coast. There is still some work to be done, let´s hope the best for 2018!