Bill Description:
This bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow for the future importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada.[teaserbreak]
Background:
The polar bear was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in May, 2008. Additionally, this ESA listing automatically designated the polar bear as a “depleted species” under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Under the MMPA, no imports are allowed of depleted species. Therefore, one of the results of the ESA polar bear listing was a ban on all imports, including sport-hunted trophies.
This bill amends the MMPA to circumvent that rule; it allows for the future importation of polar bear trophies regardless of its status as an ESA threatened, MMPA depleted species.
While the primary threat facing the imperiled species is climate change, trophy hunting of an already rare and imperiled predator species only increases the likelihood of extinction. Furthermore, hunters typically target the largest adults, which would likely have detrimental effects on the future genetic health of the species.
Furthermore, like H.R. 224, this bill sets a dangerous precedent for Congressional leniency on the import of endangered species, even if they are already protected under federal law. The ESA and the MMPA are two of our strongest wildlife protection laws; they are stalwart walls preventing our most cherished species from slipping into oblivion. If enacted, this bill would not only be disastrous for polar bears, but would also cause a significant fundamental crack in the ESA and MMPA.
Take Action:
Contact your U.S. representative and urge him or her to oppose this legislation!
Read the full text and follow its progress here.