Dead black bear with claws cut off found at Kashechewan First Nation garbage dump

Warning: this story contains a graphic photograph

Photos of a dead black bear lying in a garbage dump with its claws cut offhave surfaced online.

The photos of the bear were takenat the Kashechewan First Nation garbage dump on Sunday.

FacebookuserIsaiahGoodwinwhoposted the photossaid he was sad and angry when hecame across the bear's body. He often goes to the dumpto watch the bears eating garbage in the evening.

Hesaid he believes the person killed the bear for sport.

Ministry says it will not investigate

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry told CBC Newsit will not investigate.

Ministry spokesperson Jolanta Kowalski saidNishnawbe-Aski police serviceshave spoken to the person who shot the bear.

"Our understanding is that the individual shot the animal in defence of property as it wandered through the community on Sunday," Kowalskisaid.

"The animal was taken to the dump once it was dispatched but the individual kept the claws for personal use."

Similar to hunting, ifa bear is shot in self-defence or to protect property, Kowalski said youare permitted to keep parts of the animal for yourself.

Were the claws taken fortrophyor profit?

It's not clear what this person planned to do with the claws, but hunting outfitters in northern Ontario told CBC Newsthey could be sold for profit.

Bear hunter Mickey Major told CBC Newsparts of a bear, including paws, teeth, and claws, can be worth money.

"I've been told the claws of a bear are quite a delicacy for some folks," he said.

Outfitter Art Barefoot saidhe's been approached in the past to sell bear partson the black market.

"A neighbour came to me and said he had a buddy, who saidif I saved all these things I would get 'this much money.' No way I would get involved in that," he said.

But Barefoot said he's never heard of someone shooting a bear just for its claws.

"He might have just taken it for a trophy. If they didn't take all the other parts, then I don't think it'sfor sale."

Big money in selling wild animal parts

There is big money to be made in selling wildlife body parts, according toFaisal Moolafrom the David Suzuki Foundation.

There are several cases of poaching in Canada,Moolasaid, including one in British Columbia where eagles were being poached for their feathers.

"I haven't heard of any specific examples of black bears where claws have been removed...but I am quite familiar with the entire paw being taken off an animal," he said.

"In this case, we don't know why the claws were removed, or whether or not they're being traded within Canada... Ithink we have to very careful not to speculate motivation."