The fragile state of polar bears has been recognized on both a national and global level as the species faces serious threats from climate change, environmental degradation and oil and gas development. Despite these threats, the U.S. government still supports the importation of polar bear heads and hides that are killed in Canada by U.S. hunters. This is due to a loophole in the Marine Mammal Protection Act that was created for special interests in 1994 and now must be closed.
The Polar Bear Protection Act would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act by removing the language that was added in 1994 allowing Americans to import polar bear trophies from Canada.
The IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group stated that the polar bear population, currently estimated between 20,000-25,000, could drop 30 percent in the coming 35-50 years and that polar bears may disappear from most of their range within 100 years.
The Polar Bear Protection Act would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act by removing the language that was added in 1994 allowing Americans to import polar bear trophies from Canada.
The IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group stated that the polar bear population, currently estimated between 20,000-25,000, could drop 30 percent in the coming 35-50 years and that polar bears may disappear from most of their range within 100 years.