Inuit, scientists say defeat on polar bear trade ban not final

Inuit hunters are celebrating the defeat of a proposal at an international wildlife meeting that would have forbidden the cross-border trade in polar bear parts.

But both Inuit leaders and scientists say the fight isn’t over and the issue is likely to resurface.

Bear expert Andrew Derocher (deh-ROH’-shay) at the University of Alberta says it’s inevitable that polar bears will eventually come under the full protection of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

He says Canada can buy itself a few years by ensuring that its bear management includes the latest environmental information, including assessments of shrinking sea ice.

Terry Audla (OWD’-lah) of Canada’s national Inuit group says he’s already planning to work with other countries that have polar bears to get them on board with Canada’s management system.

He says he hopes he doesn’t have to make the same arguments at the convention’s next meeting, but he isn’t optimistic.