IFAW: Death knell for polar bears as CITES votes against conservation.

Thursday, 18 March 2010 12:00 AM

Ignoring the plight of polar bears, CITES Parties gathered in Doha at the 15th Conference of the Parties (CoP 15) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) voted to hasten the polar bear's demise by failing to support an uplisting to Appendix I which would have banned all international commercial trade in the bears and their parts.

"CITES parties have turned their backs on this iconic species," said Jeff Flocken, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Washington DC Director and member of a polar bear coalition which consists of the Animal Welfare Institute, Defenders of Wildlife, Eurogroup for Animals, Humane Society International, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Natural Resources Defense Council, ProWildlife and the Species Survival Network.

With only 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears remaining, CITES Parties have chosen to ignore the latest science which predicts the population will decline by two-thirds by 2050.

Robbie Marsland, UK Director of IFAW, said: "Polar bears clearly meet the criteria for an uplisting to Appendix I, yet Parties are using the fact that climate change poses the greater long-term threat to the species as an excuse to do nothing about immediate threats hastening their decline.

"No-one argues against the fact that climate change is the biggest threat to the long-term survival of the polar bear. However hundreds of bears are killed each and every year to supply an unnecessary commercial trade in polar bears such as skins, claws and jaws.

"Parties had an opportunity to take action to save more than 3,000 polar bears from commercial trade over the next decade - yet they turned their backs. In years to come, people will look back on this moment with great shame."

The final vote was 48 votes in favour of the uplisting, 62 against and 11 Parties abstained.

Ends

For more information or to arrange interviews contact Clare Sterling at IFAW on 020 7587 6708, mobile 07917 507717 or email csterling@ifaw.org

About the International Fund for Animal Welfare - As one of the world's leading animal welfare organisations, IFAW has representation in 16 countries and carries out its animal welfare work in more than 40. IFAW works from its global headquarters in the United States and focuses its campaigns on improving the welfare of wild and domestic animals by reducing the commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats and assisting animals in distress. IFAW works both on the ground and in the halls of government to safeguard wild and domestic animals and seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people. Visit www.ifaw.org

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