Canada will take special measures to protects its polar bears. Federal Environment Minister Peter Kent has declared the polar bear a "species of special concern".

Officials will now create a management plan in hopes of easing human threats to the species.

"Canada is home to two-thirds of the world's polar bear population and we have a unique conservation responsibility to effectively care for them", Kent said.

Currently, about 534 polar bears are hunted each year in Canada but the population is around 15.500.

Source: NTN24