Our Work with Polar Bears

At WWF, we’re focused on tackling the biggest threats to the world's wildlife. For polar bears, that means climate change and habitat loss.

Polar bear footprints. Last Ice Area, Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada.

Thanks to our brilliant WWF-UK supporters, we’re working to ensure the long-term survival of this magnificent species. Together, we:

Fund scientific monitoring of polar bears in Svalbard in Norway
Are developing non-intrusive tracking methods and support research on the impacts of climate change on polar bears
Advocate for the protection of their habitats
Support projects led by Indigenous communities, monitoring Arctic species populations, including monitoring polar bear denning habitats in the Canadian Arctic

Our Arctic Programme

Waterfalls cascade from the Austfonna polar ice cap, Svalbard, Arctic. Andy Rousenna.jpg

Polar Bear Fur Trade and Hunting

Images of polar bears being used as rugs and other kinds of trophies can be incredibly distressing.  We are deeply disturbed by illegal wildlife trade and work tirelessly to end it. Where trade is legal under national and international law, it must be strictly regulated, transparent, and sustainable - never threatening species survival.

WWF does not work to support, promote or facilitate the fur trade, and we actively work to stop illegal trade and strengthen enforcement.

In fact, we support very strict limits and regulations on legal trade – ultimately it is governments, through international agreements, that determine and enforce these rules. We also back robust protections to ensure any legal hunting is sustainable and does not threaten species survival.

Balancing the needs of people and nature

Polar bear conservation is a vital and yet complex issue and we work alongside the scientific community, with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and in line with the relevant local laws to help advance it in the most sustainable way.

We recognize the legal rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and governments to manage wildlife sustainably in line with their cultural traditions. We work to ensure any legal, locally led wildlife management is sustainable and does not threaten species survival.

Our focus is on tackling the issues that pose the biggest threats to wildlife, like climate change and habitat loss. All our work is based on what the science and evidence tell us is needed.

Q&A

Does WWF support the polar bear fur trade?

WWF does not work to support, promote or facilitate the fur trade. We support very strict limits and regulations on legal trade, and we actively work to stop illegal trade and strengthen enforcement.

Why doesn’t WWF push for polar bears to be moved to CITES Appendix I to end international trade altogether?

As a global network, all of our work is rooted in the latest science and collaboration with partners at the local and global levels.

WWF’s conservation efforts focus on the greatest threats polar bear populations face, which are climate change, shrinking sea ice, and increasing human–bear conflict.

CITES remains the only forum for countries to come together around the world to agree global rules for regulating international trade in wildlife, and we are very aware of its limitations in preventing the illegal wildlife trade. 

Supporting an Appendix I listing when the science does not justify it would go against our credible science-based approach, and weaken our ability to secure CITES protections for species where trade is a critical threat