Senator Boxer: Protecting Polar Bears

Statement

Senator Boxer: Protecting Polar Bears

July 29, 2007

Many of us have watched the current plight of polar bears that are suffering from environmental degradation, global warming, and a legal loophole that encourages them to be trophy hunted. I am pleased to cosponsor legislation aimed at protecting these amazing animals from their current plight.

The Polar Bear Protection Act of 2007, S.1406, would close the loophole that allows U.S. citizens to bring into the United States sport-hunted polar bear trophies from Canada. This legislation will help to conserve and protect one of the grandest of all animals by discouraging sport hunting.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 established a moratorium on the importation of marine mammals, including polar bears. However, Congress created an exemption to this moratorium in 1994 and allowed American sport hunters to bring home polar bear trophies from Canada for their personal use. This exemption has resulted in increased Canadian polar bear deaths.

The 1994 exemption was created before we knew that global warming and environmental degradation would have such devastating impacts on polar bears. I strongly support this legislation and also support the listing of the polar bear as an endangered species, as the best science indicates, in the hope that we can better protect the polar bear and its habitat.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer, US Senator, California

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