| Polar Bears Listed under COSEWIC | 29 April 08 |
 Canada's Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) delivered their recommendations to the federal government on whether the polar bear should be considered for protection. The last COSEWIC status review for the poplar bear, in 2002, assessed the polar bear as a species of 'Special Concern', meaning that it "may" become a threatened or an endangered species.The 2008 COSEWIC recommendation is to continue 'Special Concern' status for the polar bear. WWF Canada urged the government to list the polar bear as 'Threatened' due to devastating affects of global warming, rapidly shrinking sea-ice habitat, and industrial development pressures as oil exploration disturbs large tracts of habitat. Due to concerns for survival of the polar bear as sea ice continues to melt, it is listed as 'Vulnerable' on the World Conservation Union (IUNC) 'Red List' of Threatened Species and 'Threatened' on the US Endangered Species Act. Manitoba lists the polar bear as 'Threatened' under The Endangered Species Act (ESA). Of 19 Arctic polar bear populations, 13 live either wholly or partially in Canada. 'Special Concern' status under COSEWIC requires the federal government to draw up a management plan, but would not require the government to do anything about climate change. View April 20, 2008 Canadian Press article View April 21, 2008 WWF Canada article and Fact Sheet View April 25, 2008 CBC article View January 18, 2008 CBC In Depth Climate Change - Polar Bears Backgrounder View 2007 IUCN/PBSG Report, Melting Under Pressure: the real scope on climate warming and polar bears (PDF) Sources: Canadian Press, WWF-Canada, CBC, Wildlife Journal |
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