Published: Friday, 12th March, 2010 12:24pm
MP's bid to protect polar bears
Comments (1) | 
Print | 
Email
North Ayrshire MP Katy Clark has signed an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons, which calls on the government to support increased protection for polar bears.
Ms Clark said: "I am pleased to sign this motion to give the added protection, so desperately needed, to these magnificent creatures. Not only is the polar bear under terrible threat from the loss of its habitat, its numbers are also threatened by trade in its fur and other body parts. We must do all we can to help protect this iconic species.
"It is relatively well known that the survival of the polar bear is threatened by the loss of its natural habitat by the shrinking of the North Pole's ice cap.
" Less well known is the fact that it is also in danger from the international commercial trade in polar bear products. Polar bear parts and products can still be legally traded internationally."
More than 25,000 polar bear specimens and products (polar bear skin rugs, skins, claws, bodies, trophies, live animals) were traded internationally in the past 10 years, including more than 5,000 for commercial purposes (e.g. polar bear skin rugs) and non-commercial (e.g. trophies) purposes.
