Call for Ban on Polar Bear Products Opens Debate

A debate between conservation groups about a ban on polar bear products has sparked major interest across the globe ahead of the UN wildlife meeting in March this year. A major increase in the number of polar bear skins available at auction in the last half decade has seen the Humane Society International claim that more polar bears are being hunted than ever before.

Yet WWF officials disagree, emphasising the fact that climate change is polar bears major threat to endangerment, and that opening this debate is taking the public’s eye off the real issue. It’s quite easy to see how groups like the Humane Society International would come to these conclusions, as there has been an astounding 375% increase in polar bear skins available at auction, though WWF feel that international trade is not the major issue in the falling number of the animal.

WWF’s wildlife trade policy analyst, Colman O’Criodain, said –

If we were tempted to support (a ban) on the basis of trade being a major threat, it is not. You could say that this is just a distraction factor and that it could have the effect of making people think something has been done to address the threat when the net effect will be almost negligible. We have to focus on what is the major threat and not distract ourselves with a relatively minor one. We can’t be arguing for the science when it suits us and then ignore it when it doesn’t suit our case.

The World Wildlife Fund has long been at the forefront of polar bear protection across the globe, and their opinion must be held in the highest regard.
It will be interesting to see the issue discussed at the United Nations wildlife conservation meeting in Thailand this March, we shall certainly be keeping you up to date on all of the findings and topics at this convention.

Polar bear hunting is still a part of some cultures in the world, Here’s hoping that this issue can be debated and settled to ensure the maximum amount of effort is channeled to aid the survival of these beautiful creatures. If you would like to help the polar bear, why not check out our dedicated charity page where you can adopt one of these amazing creatures, and directly help raise funds for WWF’s groundbreaking work in saving the polar bear from extinction.