Tell the Obama Administration to Help Save Polar Bears!

Despite the growing threats of climate change, toxic pollution and oil development that jeopardize the very existence of polar bears, hunters continue to kill hundreds of them every year — and are allowed to sell their body parts legally in the international market.

Right now, the Obama Administration is deciding whether or not to propose an urgently-needed ban on the commercial trade in polar bear parts at the next meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Ask the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take this life-saving step!

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Dan Ashe, Director, US Fish & Wildlife Service

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Time for a ban on the commercial trade in polar bear parts

Dear Director Ashe:

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Please advance a worldwide ban on the commercial trade in polar bear parts by proposing the transfer of polar bears from Appendix II to Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

With polar bears gravely threatened by climate change, we must take all possible measures to limit other deadly pressures on them. The scientific evidence is overwhelming that rising temperatures will cause two-thirds of the world's polar bear populations, including all of Alaska's polar bears, to go extinct by 2050. They are already drowning and starving as a result of melting sea ice. Their populations cannot afford to be hunted simply to meet the international demand for polar bear rugs.

Canada allows the killing of more than 300 polar bears every year, mostly for the sake of sport hunting and to feed the growing international demand for polar bear hides and parts.  Indeed, polar bear hides are fetching record prices and sport hunting is on the rise. Yet, despite the polar bear's precarious status, Canada is actually increasing its quotas for the hunting of polar bears in many regions.

That is why I applauded the Obama Administration's position at the last meeting of CITES, where the United States sponsored an urgently-needed proposal to ban the international commercial trade in polar bear parts. While that initial effort was not successful, now is the time to build momentum and achieve success at the next meeting of CITES in March 2013.

Please sponsor a proposal for a ban, and then work with like-minded range states, such as Russia, to pass it for the sake of polar bear survival.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]

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