On the west coast of Canada, in British Columbia, next to the Pacific Ocean, there is a dense rainforest. The most special protagonist in the rainforest is the Comode Bear, which everyone prefers to call the White Spirit Bear. White spirit bear is actually a special variety of American black bear. They have white hair all over because of a rare invisible mutation in a gene called MCR 1, which must be carried by both parents. There are probably fewer than 400 all over the world right now. This amazing white bear lives almost exclusively in the Great Bear Rainforest. This is the largest and best protected temperate rainforest in the world. There are foggy fjords, wooded islands and snow-covered peaks. In addition to white spirit bears, brown bears, black bears, humpback whales and orcas all call this home. There are also 15 aboriginal tribes who have lived here for generations. Every year from mid-August to early September, salmon starts to migrate, and white spirit bears will stay by the stream to catch fish, trying to eat fat for the winter. Scientists have found that white fur is not so easily found by underwater salmon on the water surface, so white spirit bears have an advantage in catching fish. Like common black bears, they mate from May to July, but baby bears are not born until winter hibernation (January-February). One baby usually gives birth to 1 to 3 babies, and the mother bear will live with the children for about a year and a half. Originally, brown bears rarely come to White Spirit Bear territory, but in the last five years, they have often visited. Brown bears are much bigger, and white spirit bears are no match for fighting. Therefore, whenever they encounter, white spirit bears will take the initiative to dodge. For us travelers, the chance of seeing a brown bear is much greater than that of seeing a white spirit bear. From May to the end of October, you can encounter them in rainforests, fjords and estuaries.
Speaking of rainforest, you may not think of marine animals, but Big Bear Rainforest is a paradise for humpback whales, fin whales and killer whales. They all love to come here to find food in summer and autumn. There is also a sad history here: sea otters were almost killed to extinction by humans in the 1970 s because of their precious fur. The more than 6,000 sea otters you see now are all the offspring of 89 that the government transferred from Alaska. In this huge rainforest of 210,000 square kilometers, human beings have also found their place. There are no roads here, so you can only get in by seaplane or helicopter. Those wild luxury hotels hidden deep in the rainforest are so isolated from the world. They hide quietly by the river or mountainside for fear of disturbing the quiet here. You can also charter a sailing boat that can accommodate 6 to 12 people and sail the sea, so that you have more freedom of movement and more places to go. In addition to seeing animals, you can also walk into aboriginal territory if you get permission. Their ancestors lived here for more than 6,000 years. Following the guide, you can find ancient stone and wood totems in the rainforest. Totem cult is a culture unique to Indian tribes on the west coast of Canada. These totems resemble patron saints, and the most common ones are killer whales, brown bears, frogs and crows. They are not only symbolic, but sometimes engraved with tribal historical stories, such as weddings and battles. The aborigines don’t go out of their way to maintain these totem poles, but let them grow old and rot naturally. Because they believe that totem poles, like people, have their own life cycle. It seems isolated, but it is full of vigorous vitality inside. Ancient rainforests, magnificent coasts, tribes that have been inherited for thousands of years, and free wild animals all coexist harmoniously, responding to the most primitive call of nature.
