Gov. Sarah Palin announced on May 21, 2008 that the state of Alaska will challenge the recent listing of [[polar bears]] as a threatened species. She and other Alaska elected officials fear a listing will cripple oil and gas development in prime polar bear habitat off the state's northern and northwestern coasts when such a listing is unnecessary. Palin argued that there is not enough evidence to support a listing stating that polar bears are well-managed and their population has dramatically increased over 30 years as a result of conservation. | Gov. Sarah Palin announced on May 21, 2008 that the state of Alaska will challenge the recent listing of [[polar bears]] as a threatened species. She and other Alaska elected officials fear a listing will cripple oil and gas development in prime polar bear habitat off the state's northern and northwestern coasts when such a listing is unnecessary. Palin argued that there is not enough evidence to support a listing stating that polar bears are well-managed and their population has dramatically increased over 30 years as a result of conservation. |