Despite scientists predicting that polar bear numbers will fall by two thirds in the next few decades, which could be a best-case scenario, Canada is refusing to grant the species proper protection.
The United States has determined the polar bear to be an endangered species. Russia, the other main home of the species, protects its own bears, although it does import pelts from, unsurprisingly, Canada.
The Harper government seems determined to do absolutely nothing to protect its wildlife or environment. Polar bears are still only listed as a “species of special concern”, which in practice means almost nothing.
It is time for Canada to stop being the bad guy of the world when it comes to Arctic wildlife.
Tell the Canadian government to list the polar bear as endangered and begin introducing appropriate protection measures.
We the undersigned ask that you stop refusing to provide the appropriate protection for polar bears. The species is threatened by melting sea ice, overfishing, Arctic oil exploration and, to a lesser extent, hunting, and numbers were never enormous in the first place.
Polar bears certainly qualify as a species under threat and no amount of denial is going to change that.
Please listen to scientists rather than commercial interests, and list the species as endangered. This must be followed by the appropriate research and protection measures.
Thank you for your attention.
