Polar Bears Have Nowhere to Go

Climate change may not seem to be affecting humans that much right now, but it is already taking a heavy toll on many animals. Like certain species of frogs, fish, koala bears, and penguins, the polar bear is in great danger. The possibility of polar bears going extinct is probably one of the most publicly known possible consequences of global warming. Scientists believe that two-thirds of the world’s polar bears could disappear by 2050, as global warming continues to melt the Arctic’s sea ice. The polar bear is rare to most people other than seeing one or two in the zoo, but it is an iconic animal that most people would miss if it became extinct. "Our results have demonstrated that as the sea ice goes, so goes the polar bear," said Steven Amstrup, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) wildlife research biologist in Anchorage, Alaska, and leader of the polar bear studies. Drowned polar bears are being found, and while they are able to swim long distances, it is clear that they are suffering from over exhaustion because there is a loss of ice. Not only does the melting of ice decrease the habitat of the polar bear, but also they are not adapted to hunting land animals. Their main source of food is seals, but with no ice, they won’t be able to reach or hunt seals. "If we don't change the path that we're on now, then it will be too late," said, climate change activist Kassie Siegel who is with the Center for Biological Diversity in Joshua Tree, California. "Polar bears will become extinct." Scientists predict a mostly ice-free Arctic summer by 2040 if present trends continue. Warming temperatures are melting the ice quicker than most climate models have projected. Polar bear survival is really now at the hands of humans. "Emissions reductions now could assure polar bears will still be around to repopulate sea ice when it returns to other areas," said Amstrup. This is just another animal on the list that is being affected by global warming. With continued carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere the Artic will continue to grow warmer as a result of human activity. With the Artic getting warmer and the ice melting the polar bear will be gone very soon.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/09/070910-polar-bears_2.html