Post by Woody Williams on Feb 10, 2006 13:28:59 GMT -5
www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/02/09/polarbear-us060209.html
Northern hunters worry about USA polar bear decision
Last Updated Thu, 09 Feb 2006 10:41:58 EST
CBC News
U.S. wildlife officials are reviewing whether to put the polar bear on
the threatened-species list, a move that could spell trouble for the
lucrative sport hunts in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will assess climate-change studies
and the status of the polar bear population, and decide within a year
whether to protect the furry white marine mammal under the Endangered
Species Act, it said Wednesday.
Businesses in Canada's North that make their living from hunting the
bears from dog team drivers to outfitters and hotel owners fear the
move to put the polar bear on the threatened list could hurt their
revenues.
American sport hunters pay up to $35,000 each to hunt the mammal in
Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
Canadian polar bear scientist Dr. Andrew Derocher says giving the bear
threatened-species status could change the whole game.
"I think what you would see is a pretty quick movement to ban all
imports of polar bear and polar bear parts into the United States as a
whole."
Inuit hunter Larry Audlaluk says he doesn't believe the bear population
is in trouble.
"The Inuit, we have always been conscious of our environment, our
animals as hunters and gatherers," said Audlaluk, who lives on Ellesmere
Island. "We haven't seen any indication the polar bear is dying off, no.
In fact, it's going the other way."
Biologists estimate the world's polar bear population is 22,000 to
25,000, with about 60 per cent in Canada.
Canada does not consider the bears in immediate danger of extinction,
but has designated the animal as a species of special concern because of
decreasing habitat, illegal hunting, contaminants in their prey, and
global warming.
Under Canada's managed polar bear hunt, about 1,100 bears can be hunted
each year.
Northern hunters worry about USA polar bear decision
Last Updated Thu, 09 Feb 2006 10:41:58 EST
CBC News
U.S. wildlife officials are reviewing whether to put the polar bear on
the threatened-species list, a move that could spell trouble for the
lucrative sport hunts in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will assess climate-change studies
and the status of the polar bear population, and decide within a year
whether to protect the furry white marine mammal under the Endangered
Species Act, it said Wednesday.
Businesses in Canada's North that make their living from hunting the
bears from dog team drivers to outfitters and hotel owners fear the
move to put the polar bear on the threatened list could hurt their
revenues.
American sport hunters pay up to $35,000 each to hunt the mammal in
Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
Canadian polar bear scientist Dr. Andrew Derocher says giving the bear
threatened-species status could change the whole game.
"I think what you would see is a pretty quick movement to ban all
imports of polar bear and polar bear parts into the United States as a
whole."
Inuit hunter Larry Audlaluk says he doesn't believe the bear population
is in trouble.
"The Inuit, we have always been conscious of our environment, our
animals as hunters and gatherers," said Audlaluk, who lives on Ellesmere
Island. "We haven't seen any indication the polar bear is dying off, no.
In fact, it's going the other way."
Biologists estimate the world's polar bear population is 22,000 to
25,000, with about 60 per cent in Canada.
Canada does not consider the bears in immediate danger of extinction,
but has designated the animal as a species of special concern because of
decreasing habitat, illegal hunting, contaminants in their prey, and
global warming.
Under Canada's managed polar bear hunt, about 1,100 bears can be hunted
each year.
