Stop the Polar Bear Rug Trade
Polar bears are in big trouble from accelerating Arctic warming and vanishing sea-ice habitat. Incredibly, driven by skyrocketing fur prices, trophy hunting is still allowed and it's taking a devastating toll. Polar bear sport-hunting and trophy trade are prohibited in the United States, but international trade in polar bear parts is alive and well.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now deciding whether it will move to protect polar bears under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The agency is currently "undecided" on its position for the upcoming CITES meeting.
Canada kills around 500 bears annually and leads the world in exporting rugs and hunting trophies. As polar bear numbers plummet under pressure from climate change, the Canadian territory of Nunavut quadrupled its hunting quota this season.
Tell FWS to take a stand against this excessive killing: Stop the international trade in polar bears parts and lead the world in protecting Arctic species.
SUBJECT: CITES Protections for Polar Bears
To Chief Rosemarie Gnam:
I strongly urge you to propose uplisting polar bears to Appendix I status under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Around 500 polar bears are killed each year in Canada -- the only country that currently allows sport-hunting of these imperiled creatures. Polar bear pelt prices continue to rise, and unsustainable hunting quotas have already been significantly increased in the Canadian territory of Nunavut this year.
Commercial trade in this endangered Arctic species only intensifies its serious decline due to climate change. Polar bear populations simply cannot sustain hunting to satisfy the international demand for rugs and trophies.
Please propose a CITES listing to protect polar bears under Appendix I and work diligently to advance their listing with other range countries.
