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日本語VICTORY: A much-needed win for the polar bears
With more and more scientists finding an accelerated shrinking of Arctic habitat, and on-going attempts by single-minded US Congressmen determined to circumvent existing laws protecting polar bears, I’m happy to report that polar bears finally received some good news: thanks to a farsighted decision by a US federal judge, polar bears will continue to have protections from unnecessary killing by trophy-hungry American hunters.
On Monday, October 17, Judge Emmet Sullivan of the U.S. District Court of theDistrict of Columbia upheld the decision to ban polar bear trophy imports into the US. This ban first came into effect when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) listed polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in May of 2008. Infuriated hunters from Safari Club International and other trophy hunting groups filed suit against the FWS claiming that the ban violated existing laws and that trophy-hunting actually helps this imperiled species. Luckily, Judge Sullivan did not buy the twisted argument that hunting a species threatened with extinction is good for it, and instead found that import of polar bear trophies violates US law.
This is a major conservation victory for a species already faced with mounting threats including melting sea ice, habitat degradation and pollution. Needless exploitation by Americans for mounted trophies to hang on walls is a threat that polar bears do not need on top of these other complex and difficult-to-address pressures. I applaud Judge Sullivan for his ruling and hope this outcome will serve as a wake-up call to some Congressional leaders and trophy hunters who still seek to create loopholes in US laws that protect polar bears and other imperiled species.
Now, instead of expending valuable resources defending polar bears against unnecessary and expensive lawsuits filed by trophy hunting special interest groups, we can all return our focus to finding solutions to the pressing problems faced by endangered wildlife. Polar bears need solutions to mounting threats in order to survive this century – not more needless killing. -JF
About Jeffrey Flocken
Work
Jeff leads a team of legislative professionals advocating for US policy initiatives on wildlife conservation and animal welfare in his role as Director IFAW Washington, D.C. His wor
Comments: 6
thats very good news, it's wonderful to know that so many people care about the inhabitants of our planet. It seems that wildlife have enough of a fight on their hands trying to stay alive in changing environments, i.e melting icecaps, without the worry of becoming 'immortalised' on a trophy hunter's dining room wall.
Do these people want their grandchildren to see wild animals happy and alive in their own environment in years to come, or forever staring into empty space as part of ' the decor '?
Well done that American judge!
That's good to now and by helping them you should pay lot's of attention to the annual seal hunt cause that's usally what they eat
Keep polar bears safe
I'm very pleased with the ruling of Judge Sullivan. I think hunting any animal for trophies is sick, but I feel that little bit more for the polar bears as they are my favourite animals.
Thank you IFAW for bringing us this good news and keep up the good work!
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A great decision. i can't image people hunting polar bears for trophies. This line made me laugh "trophy-hunting actually helps this imperiled species." I wonder if hunting the member of Safari Club International would help their numbers too ?