Polar bear poaching in Russia down – But climate change threatening their existence

17/03/2009 12:23:05 Future of polar bears at stake this year
March 2009. According to the annual research by WWF Russia, poaching of Russian polar bears has decreased in 2009, probably due to the anti-poaching activities of the WWF Polar Bear Patrol, population reduction caused by climate change and economic stagnation.

Every year since 2003, WWF has searched the Russian internet market for illegal polar bear skins being sold. The number of skins being offered polar bear skins decreased this year; only 19 skins were offered on the web in March 2009, compared with 30 skins available in 2008. WWF estimates that around 100 polar bears were killed in the Russian Arctic last year by poachers.

Polar Bear Patrol
WWF-Russia Polar Bear Patrol groups were especially active during the past year, patrolling polar bear migration routes, monitoring the species population and preventing human-animal conflicts. However, a general decrease in the number of Polar bears, probably caused by the negative effect of climate change, has made poaching more difficult. It is also possible that the economic downturn has decreased the demand for polar bear skins.

May die out in next 50 years due to climate change
Most Polar bears are poached in the east of Russia, although it was difficult to get exact information. Polar bear hunting has been completely banned in Russia since 1956. It is thought that there are about 5-7000 polar bears in Russia. According to WWF lose two thirds of the world's Polar bears may have disappeared in as little as 50 years if climate change and resource exploitation continue at their current rate.

Polar Bear Range State Meeting
The research was completed just before the Polar Bear Range State Meeting. For the first time in more than 25 years, the Contracting Parties to the 1973 international Agreement for the Conservation of Polar Bears and Their Habitats - Canada, Russia, US, Greenland/Denmark, and Norway - met together for a formal meeting under the agreement. The meeting, hosted by the Norwegian government, was in Tromsø, Norway, 17-19 March.