1 of 21

Write now Article Tools

The Polar bears are the largest species of bears in the world. Ursus maritimus is the scientific name for the polar bear. It can also be referred to as the great white bear, nanook and ice bear. These are found only in the Arctic region and are completely dependent on sea ice for survival. As the top predator in the Arctic, they specialise in the hunt of ringed seals. Now, this sea hunter is tragically facing increased threats of extinction as a result of the speedy melting away of sea ice, its very own habitat - a direct result of global warming. Sea ice encompasses all the essential behaviours of this bear specie. They feed, travel, mate and cater for their young on sea-ice. Should the current levels of green house gas emissions continue, the further loss of their sea-ice habitation is imminent and hence their extinction, inevitable. With the increase in human production of greenhouse gases, mainly from burning fossil fuels for energy, global warming is accelerating at a very high rate.

The most comprehensive report into global warming yet undertaken, has highly linked the likelihood of climate change to mankind and various activities imbibed into our way of life. According to this report, increased torrential rains, more incidents of droughts, shrinking Arctic ice and glaciers, and rising sea levels are to be expected in the next century.

Studies of polar bears have shown a decline in their numbers by nearly one quarter in just 20 years to around 25,000. Their physique has also declined. The bears can be 10ft tall and 1700lbs in weight. They use their body fat to keep them alive when the temperatures drop sharply in the harshest part of their winter to as low as minus 45C. In their survival struggle, scientists have observed how much thinner they are, especially the females. Correspondingly, these female bears are having fewer cubs. However, significant population decline has not yet begun. It is not unusual about winter season for mother bears to protect and shelter their young ones in dens which they carve out themselves, either in mountain slopes very close to the shoreline, or in snow drifts on sea-ice. Sadly, with the rise in temperatures as a result of global warming in the Canada Arctic to 4C in the last 50 years, their habitat is disappearing.

The Polar bears are increasingly threatened with starvation with their main food source, the ringed seals, becoming increasingly inaccessible. These seals live on the ice of Hudson Bay in Northeastern Canada but

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about How polar bears are affected by global warming?
We want to hear your view. Write now!