BOLTON animal lovers have teamed up with campaigners on the other side of the world to save a rare species, the white Black Bear.

The black bears, dubbed "spirit bears" by native Indians, are born white due to a recessive gene and are unique to Princess Island, British Columbia.

But environmentalists in British Columbia claim their natural rain forest habitat is under threat and are campaigning to get the island and nearby mainland coastline declared a protected bear park.

The Bolton branch of Libearty are supporting their campaign and have started a petition in the town.

Founder Melanie Howard said: "There is only one thing that can turn the powerful tide which is already bent on the destruction of the Spirit Bear wilderness - an immediate and massive public outcry of support for protection of their habitat.

"The future of these bears is in our hands. They are known as 'ghost bears'. Please do not allow them to become so."

Melanie is looking for people to collect names for the petition and can be contacted on Bolton 795913.

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