Polar Bear


What are they?…
Polar Bears are marine animals and reside on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean. They adapt so well to the icy, cold weather climates because they have a thick layer of body fat and water repellent insualted coats. They have a population of only 22,000–31,000. They weigh about 800–1,300 lbs, and are 6–9 feet in length. Polar beers are excellent swimmers and can keep up a pace of 6 miles per hour paddling. They spend half our their days hunting for food mostly seals to help protect their fat they need to survive. Polar bears are divided into 19 sub groups of the population. The IUCN Polar bear specialist group shows that three subpopulations of polar bears are in decline and are becoming high risk due to the climate change.
Why should they be saved?….
Polar bears play an important role on the food chain. Many organizisms are connected to polar bears on the food web. Polar bears will affect the seals, fish and other species below them.
Biodiversity. Polar bears are marine animals and contribute in the biodiversity of the animal populations.
To stop the climate change. With polar bears being in the Artcic this is giving everyone another reminder and reason to stop climate change by showing that these animals are being affected. The image of polar bears being there, people will have more drive to stop this negative change to the Arctic from happening.

The 19 subpopulations of Polar Bears across the Artcic
Threats…..
1.Polar bears are loosing their habitat due to the climate change. The loss of sea ice is increasing which is the biggest threat for the live of polar bears.
Polar bears need the ice in order to live to use as a platform to hunt seals. The ice has been melting and the polar bears have to rely on other resources to build their fat and wait for the ice to refreeze. This is resulting in malnutriction and will lead to starvation. The change is climate is also resulting in habitat fragmentation. When the ice melts, the polar bears are affected by the rise in different oppurtunities like oil and gas. We need to help save their habitat and not use it for our own personal benefit. The climate change will also make the prey decrease for the polar bears. The seals ultilize the ice and if there is not any they will not survive, which will then cause the polar bears not to survive either.
2.Polar bear- human contact conflicts
The hotter climate causes polar bears to spend more time onshore so these artcic communities come more into contact with them. Conflicts that could result negatively and very dangerous. People need to be more informed and protected when it comes with interactions.

3. Industrial impacts
As the ice withdraws, a new ocean is forming in the Artcic resulting is more opportunities for industrial development at sea. The petroleum installations and operations in the Artcic are expected to increase and expand. This will all affect polar bears poorly because of the oil and chemicals could harm the and cause horrible effects to the Artctic is spilled.
What we NEED to do….
We need to address and better advocate climate change around the world.
Support WWF in reducing conflict. Community projects in Alaska and Russia work together to prevent unintended and possibly fatal encounters between Polar bears and people. (Better lighting near public places, fencing, bear-proof food storage containers, and warning plans) to help reduce any issue.
Better monitor populations. Sciendtists are looking at populations to better understand and see the threats of the climate change and industrial expansion. To see how they are adapting the shifting in ice. We should add research to continue this work.

