Polar bears have lost out on increased protection under international law after a US led bid for a total ban on trade in products made from the animals, such as furs and rugs, was rejected at a UN wildlife meeting in Doha, Qatar, today. (AP)

The US proposal, backed by countries including, Egypt and Rwanda, was defeated at a meeting of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (Cites), the UN body that regulates trade in animals. The US had warned that the threat posed by climate change to polar bears’ survival will become so great the animals should be afforded the highest level of protection. Projections suggest that the bear’s numbers, which are currently estimated at 20,000 to 25,000, could decline by two-thirds by 2050 due to habitat loss in the Arctic.

But opposition to the ban, led by Canada, Norway and Greenland, argued that the threat from trade was minimal but said hunting is critical to their economies. Only 2 percent of Canadian polar bears are internationally traded and the country strictly manages the commerce, Canada said.

“There is no doubt that action must continue to ensure the conservation of polar bears. Canada’s goal is long term survival of polar bears," Canadian representative Basile Van Havre said. “But Canada does not think the proposal is supported by facts.”

“We’re disappointed,” said Jane Lyder, the Department of Interior’s deputy assistant secretary for fish and wildlife and parks. "But we understand that CITES is still trying to understand how to incorporate climate change into its decision making.

So long polar bears.

[Headline changed from ‘hunting ban’ to ‘trade ban’, 18/03/2010]