#JusticeforHankTheTank: A Call For Help
Who is Hank?
It’s not everyday we find our very own real life Winnie the Pooh, but instead of a fictional teddy bear who has a love for honey, it’s a 500 pound black bear in love with left-over pizza. In February of 2022, Hank the Tank made his presence very known in South Lake Tahoe, California, and overtook the news headlines of major channels in California like KCRA and KTLA 5 to even major national publications like The New York Times, CNN, Today, and AP News.
Although Hank didn’t make his real headlining debut till February, his presence has actually been known since the summer of 2021, by breaking into at least 28 homes to steal food out of fridges while leaving a trail of criminalizing evidence behind. As funny as an image of an oversized bear lumbering around in your kitchen and searching through your fridge may be, his presence was certainly unwelcome as residents had alerted authorities over 100 times of Hank’s antics, but to no avail. The situation escalated to the point where authorities considered euthanizing Hank as he was deemed a danger due to his development in taste for human food and his lack of fear of people. The choices were either that or to place him in a sanctuary, a decision not everyone supported either, The Bear League for example, a local nonprofit that aims to protect bears, since it would take away his freedom.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) eventually discovered DNA samples that proved two female bears were in fact also breaking into homes. CDFW officials claim that identifying bears based on physical characteristics is too unreliable, hence the need for genetic information. And a good thing too because with this newly found evidence, officials have decided to relocate the bears instead of euthanizing Hank.
It seems unbelievable that a bear could be the cause of so much concern, but even more unbelievable that it took so long for authorities to come to a consensus on how to proceed with the matter. Hank was lucky this time that other culprits were found at play, but what if they weren’t? Would we have the death of an innocent bear that wanted nothing more than to survive like the rest of us? More importantly, however, are the pressing issues Hank’s situation uncovered, such as the deadly impact human life and machinery have had on wildlife, not just in California, but around the world. And of course, the much debated issue of climate change and how much it has truly affected nature and will continue to change our world’s landscape.
Social Concern and Climate Change:
The start of the pandemic in 2020 proved to us that it is not animals that are inflicting their presence onto us, but rather that we are inflicting our presence onto them. When lockdown first hit, streets were suddenly empty and for the first time in decades, animals found themselves able to wander the streets and waterways without the presence of human life. Where there were once cargo ships and passenger boats, dolphins now swam closer to the banks and jumped out of the water. Boars in the city of Haifa were no longer afraid to scavenge the streets for food. Even natural reserves and parks, places set aside by the government to preserve them from uncontrolled development, found themselves flourishing with more life as animals emerge with the absence of tourists.
As beautiful as these images of candid wildlife are, not every view on wildlife is so optimistic. The relationship between humans and nature, otherwise referred to as the human-wildlife conflict, often leads to negative results, such as loss of property, livelihood, and even life. This is largely due to many of us not viewing animals as equals or deserving of the same liberties, such as food and shelter, much of what Hank was searching for. While it is not exactly right for a bear to be scouring houses for food, it does raise a concern that Hank has resorted to going to such measures.
Furthermore, the lack of social and economic activities has increased air quality and water pollution across the world, although the amount of biomedical waste like masks and rubber gloves has increased significantly. According to NASA, “Human activities (primarily the burning of fossil fuels) have fundamentally increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere, warming the planet. Natural drivers, without human intervention, would push our planet toward a cooling period.” This is exactly what happened during lockdown. As hopeless as it may seem, in reversing the effects of climate change, it is astonishing how just a few months of reduced pollution from human activities can begin to reverse the effects of climate change and every small effort can help avoid future temperature increases, and therefore, less global warming that would otherwise infinitely increase.
The Next Steps:
Now that we are a little bit more aware of the true issues surrounding Hank and wildlife, the question is: what can we do about it? There are many incredible organizations dedicated to preserving wildlife and educating the public about how they can do their part in protecting the animals in their community. While sanctuaries may not be the right choice for every animal, like Hank who was born in the wild, they do offer a better solution than euthanasia. In addition, there are many organizations battling the climate crisis and the overall sustainability of the environment. As for what everyday people can do, donating may seem like the most obvious step, but it’s only one of many options to take. Here are a few websites dedicated to educating others and saving animals like Hank:
Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries: GFAS is a nonprofit organization and the only globally recognized organization for certifying that a facility meets the GFAS Standards of Excellence and recognizes those as a true “sanctuary.” On GFAS, “Get Involved” page, they suggest a few ways someone who is interested in lending a hand can do such as, donating via GFAS’ new Sanctuary Giving Donation Jar, spreading the word on GFAS’s Facebook and Twitter, volunteering at a sanctuary, entering the workforce, or reporting a problem.
World Wildlife Fund: WWF is the world’s leading conservation organization that focuses not only on wildlife, but also climate, food, freshwater, and oceans. On WWF’s “How to Help” page, the organization suggests very reasonable and doable actions people can take such as, green tips, fundraising, educating kids in the classroom, and, arguably the most powerful tool in today’s age, sharing wildlife and nature issues on social media.
Clean Air Task Force: CATF is a nonprofit, fact-based, environmental organization aimed at combating the climate crisis. While the most direct way of supporting this organization is donating to support their work to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change, people can of course make sustainable choices at home, such as choosing to bike or walk instead of driving, and choosing to use technology that is more environmentally friendly.
Conclusion:
Hank the Tank should’ve been more than just a clickbait title or a trending topic on Twitter. While Winnie the Pooh is make-believe, Hank is a very real bear that will face real consequences. Taking a step back from the flashy headlines, it is clear that Hank is just a small part of a much larger elaborate maze that connects humans, wildlife, and the environment together. The next time a human and wildlife conflict occurs, it is not about asking how animals have affected us, but how we have affected them, and how we can play our part in creating a more sustainable coexistence.
