( CNN ) -- A U.S. plan to give new protection to polar bears was voted down Thursday at an international conference on endangered species . The American delegation at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) meeting in Bangkok , Thailand , had sought a ban on the international trade of polar bear parts . The ban was opposed by Canada , home to the world 's largest population of polar bears , as well as Norway and Greenland . It failed with 38 votes for , 42 against and 46 abstentions . `` Unfortunately , politics seem to have overtaken science , '' Dan Ashe , director of the U.S . Fish and Wildlife Service and the head of the U.S. delegation to the Bangkok conference , said in a statement . Polar bears have been listed under Appendix II of the CITES accords , which applies to species that are not currently threatened with extinction but may face it without restrictions on the trade of their body parts . The U.S. had proposed moving polar bears to Appendix I , which applies to species threatened with extinction and effectively bans trade in their body parts . The U.S. says that shrinking Arctic ice habitat , a product of a warming climate , puts polar bear populations in a precarious position . Two-thirds of the world 's polar bear populations could face local extinctions within 45 years due to habitat loss , the National Resources Defense Council says . `` We are obviously disappointed that the CITES membership failed to give greater protection to polar bears by limiting permissible trade in polar bear pelts and other body parts , '' U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior David J. Hayes said in a statement . `` We will continue to work with our partners to reduce the pressure that trade in polar bear parts puts on this iconic arctic species . '' Conservation groups were outraged at the vote . `` It 's a sad day for one of the world 's most iconic creatures , '' Philip Mansbridge , CEO of Care for the Wild International , said in a statement . `` The world once again had a chance to take action to safeguard polar bear populations and failed , '' Jeff Flocken , North American regional director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare , said in a statement . `` Each passing year that this iconic species is not protected to the fullest , is another year closer to losing the polar bear forever . '' Canada , which has 16,000 of the 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears left in the wild , says polar bear populations are not threatened and the animal does not meet the Appendix 1 criteria . `` The polar bear does not have a small wild population , it does not have a restricted area of distribution and no marked decline has been observed , '' Environment Canada says on its website . Canada also says polar bear parts coming from the country are taken in subsistence hunts , not by commercial operations . `` Harvest quotas are based on principles of conservation and Aboriginal subsistence , and are not market driven ; an Appendix I listing would have no conservation benefit , '' the website says . But the U.S. argued that parts from polar bears are traded among 70 countries and that trade encourages kills that , coupled with the habitat loss , put stress on populations that will cause them to shrink . About 800 polar bears are killed by subsistence hunters each year , the U.S. says . Hides can sell for $ 2,000 to as much as $ 12,000 , the FWS says . `` As polar bear hide prices have skyrocketed , more bears are being offered at auction , and hunting levels have increased , '' Ashe said in the statement . `` Prices for polar bear pelts have doubled over the last few years , and the signs are that trade is increasing . All the evidence says that it is simply unsustainable so it is foolish and negligible of us to allow it to continue when polar bear numbers are diminishing , '' Mansbridge said . `` It 's terrible to think that we are postponing protecting such a magnificent animal so that hunters can continue to have their payday , '' he said . Hayes pledged that the U.S. would n't give up on trade restrictions . `` We will continue to work with our partners to reduce the pressure that trade in polar bear parts puts on this iconic arctic species , even as we take on the longer term threat that climate change poses to polar bears , '' he said .
U.S. wanted effective ban on trade of polar bear parts . Plan voted down at endangered species conference , 42-38 . Canada says hunting does not threaten bear populations .