Land of the Grizzlies

The disappearance of North America’s vast wilderness is followed by the disappearance of the grizzly bear – it needs the wilderness to survive just as much as the wilderness needs it, and both are highly vulnerable to human interference.

Location of the nature reserve

Since 2012, Wilderness International has been purchasing land in the Toba Valley, in the heart of the coastal mountain range of western Canada, 160 kilometres north of Vancouver. This ensures that the land is protected for all time! Our vision for the Toba Valley is to create a protected grizzly bear corridor. It all began with the ‘Land of the Grizzlies’, covering over 50 hectares.

A refuge for grizzly bears

In the wilderness of the Toba Valley, they still exist: a healthy grizzly population. As there is plenty of food available, a mother can give birth to 3–4 cubs in a single year. The diverse vegetation along the riverbanks provides their food, and in late summer and autumn, the bears can feast on thousands of salmon to build up the fat reserves they need to survive the winter. The root cavities of ancient giant trees are essential for their six-month hibernation; these are formed solely through undisturbed natural processes.