Bryce Casavant, a conservation officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was despatched in 2015 to deal with reports of a bear eating rubbish and food.

He shot the female black bear in line with policy in British Columbia, but refused to shoot the two bear cubs who he said had not been seen stealing food.

Mr Casavant was subsequently suspended from the Mounties for “neglect of duty” and later dismissed.

However, he challenged his dismissal in court and the British Columbia Court of Appeals found in his favour this week.

Judges ruled that the disciplinary process should have been dealt with under different legislation due to his role as a special provincial constable.