The Interior Department proposed Wednesday, 27 December to designate polar bears as a threatened species.
Polar bears are in deep trouble because of global warming and other factors and deserve federal protection under the
Endangered Species Act.
"Polar bears are one of nature's ultimate survivors, able to live and thrive in one of the world's harshest environments," Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said. "But we are concerned the polar bear's habitat may literally be melting."
Polar bears are dependent on sea ice as a platform for hunting seals, and as a pathway to coastal areas. The ice shrinkage has meant that polar bears, which are strong swimmers, have had to cover longer distances between ice and land.
"This is a victory for the polar bear, and all wildlife threatened by global warming," said Kassie Siegel, a lawyer for the Center for Biological Diversity. "There is still time to save polar bears but we must reduce greenhouse gas pollution immediately."
A final decision on whether to add the polar bears to the list is a year away, after the government finishes more studies.
Source : AP
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