The polar bear faces a multitude of threats. Climate change is melting the sea ice, so reducing its range, overfishing threatens its food supply and the oil industry is moving in on the Arctic, which could leading to devastation of the habitat.
Polar bears are also hunted for their fur. Canada is the only country in the world where this is legal. It is supposed to be for the benefit of Canada’s indigenous peoples, although the pelts are sold internationally as a luxury item. Ironically, the price of the pelts is increasing as polar bear numbers fall.
There are only about 20,000 polar bears left altogether and the population is expected to drop by about two thirds within the next 50 years because of dwindling sea ice. The fragile status of the species probably cannot support continued exploitation for the luxury market.
Tell the Canadian government to put an immediate halt to the commercial slaughter of polar bears until a full and objective impact assessment is carried out.
We the undersigned ask that you call an immediate stop to the commercial exploitation of polar bears until a full impact assessment has been carried out.
Whether the dwindling populations can support current quotas, which in some cases were actually increased last year, is uncertain, although the answer is probably “no”. Waiting until there are no polar bears left is not the answer – action is needed now.
Conditions for the species are not the same as they were when the quotas were set. Artic wildlife, including polar bears, is facing several new and serious threats, including climate change, the threat to the habitat from fishing and oil companies moving into previously inaccessible areas, pollution and overfishing.
The polar bear population may no longer be able to sustain this level of exploitation and it is imperative that full, objective studies are in place before the commercial exploitation is allowed to continue. The rapidly rising price of polar bear pelts reflects their increasing scarcity, suggesting as strongly as anything that the species is under threat.
Canada has a duty to protect its natural resources. In this case, this means halting the lucrative trade in polar bear pelts until the impact of the trade under current circumstances, not those of 30 years ago, is known.
Thank you for your attention.
