Global News - April 2008

< Back to Global News

Canadian report finds polar bears at risk but not yet threatened with extinction

Mon 28 April 2008 14:00 UK — North America,Bears

A new report has said that Canadian polar bears are at risk from climate change, but are not yet threatened with extinction.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada said that polar bears were not declining at a fast enough rate to qualify for endangered status.

However, it did note that the government should begin to develop strategies to safeguard polar bear numbers.

"Based on the best available information at hand, there was insufficient reason to think that the polar bear was at imminent risk of extinction," the panel's chairman, Jeff Hutchings, explained.

"That's not to say that it's not in trouble. A special concern species is a species at risk in Canada and requires legislative action."

The report noted that polar bears currently face a double threat, both from hunting and the melting of ice.

Speaking to reporters after the announcement, environment minister John Baird promised action to help the bears.

According to Reuters, he said: "Let's take action now and that's exactly what we're going to do.

"We don't want to simply wait another five years for another report to say that proactive measures and action is needed. Obviously today's report says we need to do that now."

Help IAR rescue and rehabilitate endangered wildlife.

News brought to you by International Animal Rescue, saving animals from suffering around the world.

< Back to Global News   |   Read IAR News

Read IAR News >