States and list the animals as an endangered species, Environment Minister John Baird indicated on Wednesday. Canada has an estimated 15,500 polar bears. Last month an official Canadian advisory council gave the polar bear its weakest classification, that of "special concern", saying the carnivores were in trouble but not at risk of extinction.
"We've got the recommendation to continue to list it as a special concern and that's a slam dunk, that's not a difficult decision," Baird told reporters, saying Canada should take unspecified "supplementary action" to protect the bears.
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