Polar bears still have not gained full Endangered Species Act protection in the United States.

In response to a Center for Biological Diversity suit, a federal judge has ordered the Department of the Interior to reconsider a Bush administration decision that granted polar bears only partial protection under the Endangered Species Act and exempted greenhouse gas pollution -- the primary threat to the species -- from regulation under the Act.

Tragically, science shows an overwhelming probability of extinction for two-thirds of the world's polar bears by 2050 and a high risk of extinction alarmingly soon -- within the next 10 to 20 years. 
Already bears are starving, drowning and resorting to cannibalism, and populations are declining. In addition, some populations are severely overhunted, while some face the risk of yet another catastrophic oil spill.

Despite this harsh reality, in 2008 the Bush administration classified the polar bear as threatened -- rather than giving it the more protective "endangered" status -- under the Endangered Species Act.
 

I hope they recieve the much needed protection soon!!!

Source: The Center for Biological Diversity Newsletter

(This is an old post that I wrote on the ecogeneration.org site on 12/2010, since then, polar bears have been granted full protection! Yipee)