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Leaders of parties on left and right support endangered species (5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

polar bear

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'endangered species' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'leaders of parties on left and right support' is the wordplay.
'leaders of' suggests taking the first letters.
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'support' becomes 'bear' (I've seen this in another clue).
The initial letters of 'parties on left and' is 'pola'.
'pola'+'r'+'bear'='POLAR BEAR'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for polar bear that I've seen before include "Arctic mammal" , "Arctic-dwelling mammal" , "Arctic creature" , "Largest carnivorous land mammal" , "Arctic carnivore" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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