The California Water Foundation reimagined the iconic grizzly bear as a camel to call attention to the severity of the drought. The California Water Foundation reimagined the iconic grizzly bear as a camel to call attention to the severity of the drought.

SACRAMENTO (KCBS) – The iconic grizzly bear on the California state flag has been reimagined as a camel, a tongue in cheek image that advocates of sustainable water use hope will convey a serious message about the severity of the drought.

The majestic grizzly bear with its paws on green grass has been replaced by a single humped camel with its feet in the sand, an image the California Water Foundation hopes will become a wake-up call about how much the state’s water supply has diminished over the last three years.

“Well over ninety percent of the state is in serious or extreme drought conditions,” said Andrew Fahlund, the foundation’s deputy director.

“We’re starting to see fish kills and birds dying off as a result of this, so it really does affect every farm, every city and every ecosystem in the state.”

