Expert: Robin Flynn - 4/8/2009

Question
what is the cause of polar bears going extinct?


Answer
Hi Cameron,

Polar bears are in great danger because of Global Warming. Sadly, the warming process is melting the ice which bears need to survive. When a bear leaves a ice floe [ sheets of ice] and starts swimming it can only swim so far until it needs to reach another ice floe or land. Unfortunately, because the floes are melting the bears cant make the swim and drown. Polar bears are excellent swimmers but they can only last so long. And polar bears rarely hunt from the water. Instead, they use the ice floes as a platform for hunting their prey, mainly ringed seals. Ringed seals live year-round in the Arctic Ocean, and since they need to come up for air every five to fifteen minutes, they build a series of breathing holes in the ice floes. Polar bears hunt by waiting patiently at a ringed seal’s breathing hole, for hours or even days, until the seal comes up for air. If the ice floe isn’t there the bears will starve. Currently polar bears are protected under the endangered species Act. Sadly, there are still trophy hunters who want to kill these beautiful  animals and repulsive organizations like the safari club who awards people for killing them. Their motto is the more you kill the more decorated you become to the club and unbelievably this includes endangered species.


Other helpful links:

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-080514-1.html
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/polar_bear.php
http://www.hsus.org/wildlife_abuse/news/polar_bear_protection_act.html
http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw_international/join_campaigns/national_regional_efforts/...
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/432024587