10°c Sunny
6°c Clear
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Proposal to protect polar bears rejected at international conference
A representative from a wildlife organization hands out stuffed polar bear dolls to delegates before they vote on a proposal by Washington to change the status of the polar bear from a species whose trade is merely regulated, not banned at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, March 7, 2013. The proposal by the United States to ban cross-border trade in polar bears and their parts was defeated Thursday at an international meeting of conservationists, marking a victory for Canada’s indigenous Inuit people over their big neighbor to the south. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
BANGKOK - Animal welfare groups from Canada and around the world say they're extremely disappointed at a key group's rejection of a proposal to grant more protections to the polar bear.
The proposal was voted down Wednesday by delegates to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species being held in Bangkok.
Representatives of the United States and Russia supported placing polar bear hides, heads or other parts in the same category as elephant ivory, forbidding their cross-border sale.
However, Canada, the European Union and Norway opposed the move.
Sheryl Fink of the Canadian arm of the International Fund for Animal Welfare says an opportunity to protect Canada's polar bears "has been squandered."
She says the decision should not be seen as an implication that polar bears are out of danger and says her group is calling on the Canadian government to take "every possible measure available to protect this iconic species."
Canada has long maintained that bear populations are healthy and remain at between 20,000 and 25,000, and that the real threat to the bears is climate change, not international trade.
They say restricting commerce wouldn't reduce the number of bears killed because a ban wouldn't affect traditional or sport hunts.
Environment Canada officials have said Inuit hunters have developed a growing and lucrative business in selling polar bear skins as a byproduct of their traditional hunt.
But animal welfare groups and supporters of the proposal say the polar bear numbers are not as healthy as Canadian officials suggest.
"The world once again had a chance to take action to safeguard polar bear populations and failed," said Jeff Flocken, North American regional director of IFAW.
"Polar bears were handed the same appalling fate at the last CITES meeting and the decision is even more disheartening this time around. Each passing year that this iconic species is not protected to the fullest, is another year closer to losing the polar bear forever."
Russian scientist Nikita Ovsyanikov said polar bear populations are decreasing and the species is threatened when the bears are hunted and killed for their fur and parts.
"The polar bear is facing a grim future, and today brought more bad news," said Dan Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"The continued harvest of polar bears to supply the commercial international trade is not sustainable. Members of CITES have an obligation to protect species from this threat. Today, we failed to do that for the polar bear."
More The Green Page
- Back to Top
- Return to The Green Page
More The Green Page
(1 of 17 articles for this week)
Sunk? No reports of drifting ghost ship Lyubov Orlova in more than two months
11:06 AM 0ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Four months after a Russian cruise ship snapped a tow line and drifted into the North ...
Poll
Most Popular The Green Page
- Wildfire west of Edmonton forces 200 people from homes, another 200 on alert
- Inuit-Metis group withdraws from Muskrat Falls environmental review
- Heavy rain causes extensive overland flooding of farmland in Manitoba
- Senate expense scandal makes for awkward South America visit by Harper
- Heavy rain, run-off-swollen waterways could mean southern Interior floods
- Warm weather with cool breaks forecast for Canada this summer
- Beach app surveys water quality at 5,000 sites in Canada and U.S.
- Boreal Forest conservation negotiations end in failure after three years
- Nova Scotia wind project gets green light after residents oppose construction
- Bowater Mersey lands in southwestern Nova Scotia now open to vehicles
- Warm weather with cool breaks forecast for Canada this summer
- Technology will be key to conquering climate change in long run, Harper says
- Boreal Forest conservation negotiations end in failure after three years
- White beefalo has new home to roam at Saskatoon's Forestry Farm exhibit
- Wildfire west of Edmonton forces 200 people from homes, another 200 on alert
- More than 91,000 litres of oil spilled from derailed Saskatchewan train
- After days on pins and needles, hypothermic turtles are recovering
- Spray ban may be coming
- Saskatchewan creates first new provincial park in nearly 20 years
- Trail, B.C., students need no urgin' to help transplant baby sturgeon
- Warm weather with cool breaks forecast for Canada this summer
- Emergency management officials waiting for water levels to rise in Regina
- Flooding prompts three Saskatchewan communities to declare states of emergency
- Navy warship fuel spill into Halifax harbour described as "significant"
- TransCanada says it's somewhat surprised over EPA reaction to Keystone pipeline
- Technology will be key to conquering climate change in long run, Harper says
- Harper heads to New York to face grilling on Canada's environmental record
- Boreal Forest conservation negotiations end in failure after three years
- Purchasing power: Five ways consumers can be more socially conscious in shopping
- Former Liberal prime minister intends to let Americans know the benefits of Keystone
- Warm weather with cool breaks forecast for Canada this summer
- 10th Saskatchewan community declares flood emergency; Regina residents told to prepare
- Better oil price needed for emissions controls to work: environment minister
- Harper heads to New York to face grilling on Canada's environmental record
- More money may be needed for heritage area along Manitoba-Ontario boundary
- Sandbags filled, barriers ready as Saskatchewan communities prepare for flooding
- Purchasing power: Five ways consumers can be more socially conscious in shopping
- Ship that sank in 1985 likely source of small oil slicks off Newfoundland
- Liberal Justin Trudeau praises Alberta premier for Keystone efforts, pans Harper
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.