by Michael Markarian
— Our thanks to Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, for permission to republish this post, which originally appeared on his blog Animal & Politics on February 12, 2013.
When the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) gathers next month in Thailand, more than 170 member nations will consider a number of important proposals to protect imperiled species.One such measure proposed by the United States and backed by Russia—two of the five nations with polar bear populations—would “uplist” the polar bear from Appendix II to Appendix I, thereby banning the international commercial trade in polar bear skins and other parts and products.
The very survival of these majestic animals is at stake.
The polar bear is listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and faces extraordinary pressures, including melting ice, trophy hunting, and pollution. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the polar bear as vulnerable based on a projected population reduction of more than 30 percent within three generations (45 years) due to a decrease in distribution and habitat quality. The threats are so grave that a recent analysis even suggests polar bears may have to be fed by humans in order to survive. continue reading…