WWF helping facilitate trade in polar bear fur, investigation reveals

A polar bear with its cubs in Alaska. WWF has lobbied consistently from a position that allows the continuation of the commercial trade of furs out of Canada. Photograph: Reuters

The wildlife charity WWF has been maintaining policies that work to support the trade in polar bear fur at the same time as using images of the bears to raise money, it can be revealed.

Polar bears are severely affected by the loss of Arctic sea ice, which makes seeking prey harder and forces the bears to use more energy. In some regions, polar bears are showing signs of declining physical condition, having fewer cubs, and dying younger.