The Peril of the Polar Bear

Image via WikipediaBy Gareth Westhead

The polar bear is an example of a superbly adapted apex predator. The largest land carnivore on earth it is perfectly adapted to life on the Arctic sheet ice.

They are superbly insulated given their double-layered fur and thick layer of fat. They have hearing similar to that of humans but their sense of smell is phenomenal, with an ability to smell a seal up to a mile away even when buried up to 3ft in snow. Their paws are lined with small bumps and their claws are shorter than other types of bear, which provides excellent traction when walking on the ice.

Then there is their swimming ability. When hunting from sheet ice it pays to be able to swim and the polar bear is an excellent swimmer. So good in fact that there have been reports of them swimming in open arctic waters up to 200miles from land.

An icy future

But this magnificent animal is under severe threat and in very real danger of becoming extinct, with research suggesting that by 2050 two thirds of the world's polar bears will have disappeared.

The polar bear does most of its hunting in the spring and early summer months when they roam the sea ice. However climate change is causing leading to the freezing later in winter and melting earlier in the following spring. The bears therefore have to go without food for longer periods, and this is having a dramatic effect on their body weight and physical condition. It all makes it harder for them to hunt and survive.

Declining sea ice drives the bears onto land and when they are hungry, they are more likely to come into conflict with the increasing numbers of humans in the Arctic areas and are always likely to come off worse in the long run.

Act now before it's too late

The situation for the polar bear is indeed a difficult one but if we tackle climate change we can help restore the natural cycle of the sea ice and provide the polar bears with the hunting grounds they depend on. But action is needed now before it is too late.

Action is needed to tackle the issue head on and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This requires extensive research and campaigning. Even the UK's Committee on climate change has concluded that climate targets are achievable but the government must act fast. Adopt a polar bear today

http://www.adoptananimal.co.uk

Adopt an animal from just £3 per month and help save our endangered wildlife. Within the next century we face losing some of our most iconic animals but with your help we can change this and give animals a brighter future. The animal adoption scheme allows you to make a real difference from your own home and the money from your purchase goes to helping conservation worldwide. In return you receive an adorable cuddly toy of your chosen species along with lots of facts and information. You will also receive regular updates on your chosen species so you can see exactly where your money has gone. Lets help change the future for our endangered animals.

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