Alaska Disputing Federal Move to List Polar Bears as Threatened
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SCIENCE IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I'm Bob Doughty. And
I'm Shirley Griffith. This week, we will tell about a decision
by the United States federal government to protect polar bears.
We will tell about a possible genetic link between farm birds
and an ancient, meat-eating creature. And, we will have more
first aid suggestions. America's northernmost state is
threatening legal action in an effort to prevent federal
protection of the polar bear. Alaskan officials say there is not
enough evidence that polar bears are threatened. They also say
the federal listing would harm economic activities and
development in the state. Last month, the federal government
identified polar bears as threatened under a wildlife law -- the
Endangered Species Act. The polar bear is the first animal to
gain such protection because of climate change. Polar bears live
along the northern and northwestern