Polar bear declared endangered by Washington, Canadians protest
The tables have turned - this time it's the turn of the US government to bask smugly in enviro-glory, while Canadians hang their heads in shame. The US on Wednesday declared the polar bear an endangered species, while Canada has decided that the species is only "at risk."
What's more, officials in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, which earns considerable revenue from the annual polar bear hunt, are officially protesting the action in the US and calling it politically motivated.
In some sense that's true - polar bear populations have grown in the last 20 years, and are not in immediate danger of extinction. However, as global warming diminishes their habitat, they could be pushed over the edge very quickly.
It's great to see these majestic animals becoming the beneficiaries of official protection, although it remains to be seen whether it will have any meaningful impact. Also, if you're traveling up north, exercise caution - cuddly as he may be, that polar bear doesn't know you're a member of the WWF, and if disturbed may decide to disembowel you with one swipe of its paw.
Recycling plastic bags not the answer
OTC drugs: Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen are miracle drugs, but aren't quite green
Staycations: The new wave in eco-vacations
_thumbnail.jpg "Green superheroes")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-17-2008 @ 12:36PM
John said...
The natives of Nunavut have every right to be angry. Hunting these bears, whether you agree with hunting or not, is their livelihood.
And the fact a bunch of latte sipping elitists from the left and right coasts of the US are trying to impose their morality on a foreign country, in spite of the fact the population of these bears has been increasing, is absurd.
Reply
6-13-2008 @ 3:52AM
minona said...
I just read a sad news about polar in Iceland shot after swum 200 mile.
http://209.85.175.104/ search?q=cache:V7R47Yz0AFEJ:www.guardian.co.uk/ uk/ 2008/ jun/ 05/ animalwelfare.animalbehaviour+polar+bear+shot+iceland&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=sg
This polar bear deserve for life but those people just decided to shot it! How ashamed. For me, they never did enough effort to safe this endangered animal. After read the news I am confused: actually who need to be protected here? Is the people or that poor polar bear? Well fact tells the truth…it’s the polar bear that need to be protected. Because in fact there’s no report of that polar bear threating people around there. They said they don’t have tranquiliser at that time, it’s a lie to the public. A vet chief near the town said he has it. They just lazy and prefer the easiest way by just killed it. I don’t appreciate their action at all.
I hope all of us aware and come together to protect this endangered animal.
I am personally against that action taken in Iceland. Because in my opinion, they never do enough effort on how to safe this animal. They just said…uh..oh…we afraid that polar bear will attack people so we decided to just kill it. But for me it’s the same…at the end you still kill in order to prevent another killing…so what’s it? At the end you are a killer. The proper way is that you must not kill it! But make sure you make efforts to move the polar bear to its habitat. By that, there’s no killing.
Reply