Hunting polar bears is illegal in the United States. The recent decision to list the polar bear as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act closed a gaping loophole in the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) that had allowed wealthy U.S. trophy hunters to kill polar bears in Canada, where such hunting is legal, and import polar bear trophies into the U.S.
But now Safari Club International, a big game trophy hunters' club, is
suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reverse this ban on importing polar bear trophies. More than 900 polar bear heads and hides had been imported into the U.S since 1994 because of the MMPA loophole.
We have to do everything we can to prevent the polar bear's downward spiral. We need the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to stand strong on polar bear trophy hunting - urge Director Dale Hall to uphold the ban on importing polar bear hunting trophies from Canada.
Dear Director Hall,
I am writing in support of the recent ban on importation of polar bear trophies from Canada. I am disturbed to learn about Safari Club International's attempts to reverse this ban.
Polar bear populations are already declining due to melting sea ice, and bears continue to be stressed and threatened due to oil and gas exploration. Polar bears do not need the added stress from trophy hunting.
Polar bears are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and should be protected. Please stand firm on prohibiting the importation of polar bear parts.
