A future for polar bears?

Re: Inuit push against polar bear trade ban, Jan. 22.

The claim that prohibiting commercial trade in polar bear parts would pose a “serious threat” to the Inuit way of life is not only an exaggeration, it misses a larger issue.

Giving polar bears greater protection through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) will not affect the traditional hunting of polar bears by Inuit for hides and meat. It will not even affect trophy hunting by Canadians or foreigners, who use Inuit as hunting guides. Of the 600 polar bears hunted annually in Canada, over 400 are represented in international trade. Stopping the commercial trade in polar bear parts may not be enough to save this species but surely it is a step in the right direction.

A new poll conducted by Environics Research Group found that 85 per cent of Canadians support giving polar bears greater protection through an uplifting at CITES. Of the 13 polar bear populations in Canada, only one is showing an increase: the remainder are declining, stable or lacking in data. As home to some 75 per cent of the world’s remaining polar bears, and the only country to allow commercial and sport hunting of this species, it falls to Canada to take the lead in protecting polar bear populations.

There is no question that climate change, and its impact on polar bear habitat, poses the greatest threat to this species. But hunting for international commercial trade is an additional threat that can be easily reduced. If polar bears — not to mention, the Inuit way of life — are to be saved, we need to take every possible measure to reduce needless threats to this species.

Stopping the commercial trade in polar bear rugs is one small — but critical — step toward securing a future for polar bears.

SHERYL FINK, Guelph, International Fund for Animal Welfare