Tell Canada to Ban Polar Bear Hunting

By Bonnie Taylor

Target: The Honorable Peter Kent, Canadian Minister of the Environment

Goal: Stop polar bears from being hunted in Canada.

Despite growing concerns for the future of polar bears, Canadian sport hunters with more money than conscience are still able to pay for an opportunity to kill these majestic creatures. More than 1,000 polar bears are killed by humans each year and in Canada, hunters can pay as much as 60,000 Canadian Dollars for the opportunity to shoot a polar bear.

Sadly, these hunters track and target the largest, healthiest and most reproductively viable specimens to shoot and kill causing further harm to a species that scientists consider on the verge of possible global extinction due to climate change.

Due to a growing market for polar bear skins, the number of polar bears killed in Quebec has grown dramatically in recent years. Despite a decline in polar bear populations, the Nunavut territory significantly increased the hunting quota for one population of polar bears in October, 2011. These actions are irresponsible and unconscionable as we can’t reverse the damaging effects of climate change on these animals, but putting an end to their senseless slaughter by humans is completely within the control of the Canadian government.

The killing of polar bears is strictly prohibited in Norway and the U.S. has listed the animal as threatened under the Endangered Species Act prohibiting the importation of trophies and skins to the United States as it has been recognized that the loss of even one animal can have significant impacts on the future of the species. It’s time for the Canadian government to follow suit.

PETITION LETTER

Dear Honorable Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment

In a civilized society, taking an active part in the eradication of an animal species is simply unconscionable and that is what your government is doing by allowing the senseless hunting of polar bears. Your hunting quotas on polar bears are not set based upon scientific data and you continue to increase quotas on sub-populations that have already suffered serious declines.

Polar bears are already threatened by climate change and pollution and the added pressure from sport and commercial hunting only serves to increase the likelihood that the species will face extinction before the end of this century.

We can’t reverse the damage done to these animals by climate change but it is within your power to ban the unsustainable hunting of polar bears within your borders before it’s too late. Please do your part by joining the other nations that have taken the future of the polar bear as a key environmental concern.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]