Facing Extinction: Polar bears facing 'worst-case trajectory'
Digital Reporter
Saturday, November 29, 2014, 5:06 PM - A new suggest that even the High Arctic won't remain a safe haven for polar bears if the Earth continues to warm at its current pace.
The study, published this week in the open-access journal Plos One, says "business-as-usual climate projections" mean the bears face starvation and reproductive failure throughout Canada's Arctic islands by the end of the century.
The study notes that polar bears rely on sea ice as a platform for hunting, migrating and mating, but move to land in regions where sea ice does not seasonally persist.
It's the first time the latest data on sea-ice decline has been related to information on what the bears require for food and to raise healthy cubs.
RELATED: Endangered Species: The polar bear
"Each polar bear population in the Archipelago may undergo 2–5 months of ice-free conditions, where no such conditions exist presently," authors of the study say. "We identify spatially and temporally explicit ice-free periods that extend beyond what polar bears require for nutritional and reproductive demands."
University of Alberta co-author Andy Derocher says he was surprised at the results.
He says he is no longer optimistic about the future of polar bears as he used to be.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
- Reduce your carbon footprint. Polar Bears International has started a No Idling Campaign with a bevy of useful information.
- Live minimally. Buy only what you need and try to avoid products with excessive packaging.
- Make smart choices at the supermarket. Try to go meatless at least once a week, buy locally grown produce and don't waste food.
- Adopt a polar bear through WWF Canada.
CLICK BELOW TO WATCH: Ever wonder what it looks like to swim in the Arctic waters like a polar bear? Here's your chance to see.
With files from The Canadian Press
