THE
POLAR
BEAR:
The polar bear is listed as vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)Red list, which classifies it as threatened with extinction. It is the first species added to the list as a direct consequence of climate change.
The Polar Bear lives exclusively in the Arctic circle, and is estimated at around 20,000 to 25,000 individuals. It is the world's largest land carnivore, males measuring between 2.4 and 2.6 meters and weighing from 400 to over 650 kilos. The females are much smaller, between 1.9 and 2.1 meters with a weight of between 200 and 300 kilos. They divide their time between land and water, and are able to swim continuously for 100km., at a speed of up to 10kms per hour. Polar bears feed mainly on seals. When these are scarce they can also eat reindeers, birds, rodents, fish, eggs, kelp and other types of vegetation. They can also be opportunistic feeders, scavenging on dead whales or rummaging through human garbage. They are extremely well adapted to their environment, able to take advantage of over 80 % of proteins and up to 97 % of fat from their diet. Their fur is water repellent, and reflects light, which gives them their white colouration. The males reach sexual maturity after about six years, the female a little earlier at about four years of age, however they tend not to breed successfully until they are 8 to 10 years old. They usually give birth every two or three years, to one or two cubs weighing around 450 to 680 grams.
Polar bears can live for up to 20-30 years. The oldest captive bear died at 41 years of age. In the wild however, it is uncommon for bears to survive past 15 or 18 years.
There is long tradition of hunting polar bears, for food, clothing, and religious purposes. As technologies such as the snowmobile became available, the population began to decline at an alarming rate and in 1973, an international agreement was signed by all countries in which polar bears occur, banning unregulated hunting and the use of aircraft and motorised boat in hunting practices. This proved enormously successful in revitalising the polar bear population. The main threats now facing the polar bear however are the consequences of climate change, which are destabilising the hunting habits of this species. Reductions in sea ice coverage, on which they rely to have access to their prey, could dramatically reduce their food supplies, leading to increased mortality and lower reproduction. Another grave problem for the polar bear is the high levels of pollutants that they are exposed to. They are particularly vulnerable as they are on top of the food chain and these accumulate in their diet. Recent studies have shown that this is affecting their reproductive abilities and also impacts on their hormonal and immune systems and size.
Oil exploitation in the arctic circle is also a problem, exposing the bears to oil spills and leading to human bear conflict. These relatively new threats to the polar bear, combined with continued legal hunting is likely to put he survival of this species at serious risk in the next 50 years.
There is long tradition of hunting polar bears, for food, clothing, and religious purposes. As technologies such as the snowmobile became available, the population began to decline at an alarming rate and in 1973, an international agreement was signed by all countries in which polar bears occur, banning unregulated hunting and the use of aircraft and motorised boat in hunting practices.
This proved enormously successful in revitalising the polar bear population. The main threats now facing the polar bear however are the consequences of climate change, which are destabilising the hunting habits of this species. Reductions in sea ice coverage, on which they rely to have access to their prey, could dramatically reduce their food supplies, leading to increased mortality and lower reproduction. Another grave problem for the polar bear is the high levels of pollutants that they are exposed to. They are particularly vulnerable as they are on top of the food chain and these accumulate in their diet.The Polar Bear lives exclusively in the Arctic circle, and is estimated at around 20,000 to 25,000 individuals. It is the world's largest land carnivore, males measuring between 2.4 and 2.6 meters and weighing from 400 to over 650 kilos. The females are much smaller, between 1.9 and 2.1 meters with a weight of between 200 and 300 kilos. They divide their time between land and water, and are able to swim continuously for 100km., at a speed of up to 10kms per hour. Polar bears feed mainly on seals. When these are scarce they can also eat reindeers, birds, rodents, fish, eggs, kelp and other types of vegetation. They can also be opportunistic feeders, scavenging on dead whales or rummaging through human garbage. They are extremely well adapted to their environment, able to take advantage of over 80 % of proteins and up to 97 % of fat from their diet. Their fur is water repellent, and reflects light, which gives them their white colouration. The males reach sexual maturity after about six years, the female a little earlier at about four years of age, however they tend not to breed successfully until they are 8 to 10 years old. They usually give birth every two or three years, to one or two cubs weighing around 450 to 680 grams.
Polar bears can live for up to 20-30 years. The oldest captive bear died at 41 years of age. In the wild however, it is uncommon for bears to survive past 15 or 18 years.
There is long tradition of hunting polar bears, for food, clothing, and religious purposes. As technologies such as the snowmobile became available, the population began to decline at an alarming rate and in 1973, an international agreement was signed by all countries in which polar bears occur, banning unregulated hunting and the use of aircraft and motorised boat in hunting practices. This proved enormously successful in revitalising the polar bear population. The main threats now facing the polar bear however are the consequences of climate change, which are destabilising the hunting habits of this species. Reductions in sea ice coverage, on which they rely to have access to their prey, could dramatically reduce their food supplies, leading to increased mortality and lower reproduction. Another grave problem for the polar bear is the high levels of pollutants that they are exposed to. They are particularly vulnerable as they are on top of the food chain and these accumulate in their diet. Recent studies have shown that this is affecting their reproductive abilities and also impacts on their hormonal and immune systems and size.
Oil exploitation in the arctic circle is also a problem, exposing the bears to oil spills and leading to human bear conflict. These relatively new threats to the polar bear, combined with continued legal hunting is likely to put he survival of this species at serious risk in the next 50 years.