ALARM BELL TOLLING FOR THE SURVIVAL OF POLAR BEARS

The polar bear population has dwindled to between 20,000 and 25,000 worldwide and the alarm bell is tolling for their survival.

With the sea ice forming later each year, the bears have to fast up to three weeks longer. Spending less time on the ice means they are unable to hunt and build up the body reserves necessary for the summer months on land. There is a danger according to Lara Hansen, a scientist with the World Wildlife Fund, "that bears could become so thin by 2012 they may no longer be able to reproduce.


Posted by Anne Gordon on 19th September, 2010.