WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is deliberating whether to list the polar bear as an endangered species even though the bruin's numbers are not falling.
Calls for protecting the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act comes amid concern that its frozen habitat in the Arctic is thawing because of global warming, The Christian Science Monitor reported Wednesday.
"This is a complex issue because we have most polar bear populations not showing significant declines at the moment, but we have a lot of climate models and data showing great losses in the foreseeable future," said Chris Tollefson of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The agency's recommendation is due by Jan. 9, the newspaper reported.
If listed, the polar bear would be the first mammal granted protections as a consequence of global warming, and the federal government would be required to take action to protect it in Alaska, the only place in the United States the bear lives, and in other places it issues permits.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has publicly opposed listing the species. The Republican governor's administration has said such a move could hinder development and oil industry projects without boosting the polar bear's numbers.
