10 Sep 2007 - Oslo, Norway
– A new report on the fate of polar bears
in a world of climate change predicts disaster
for one of the world's most charismatic
species, says WWF.
The report by the US Geological Survey
predicts that changes in sea ice will result
in the loss of about two-thirds of the world’s
polar bear population by 2050.
Scientists estimate that there are 20,000–25,000
polar bears living in the Arctic, including
Canada, the United States (Alaska), Russia,
Norway (Svalbard) and Greenland (Denmark).
Many scientists characterise the report’s
conclusions as conservative because even
the best available models are believed to
underestimate the actual decline in arctic
sea ice.
“We now have official confirmation that
the largest living land predator is going
to go extinct in our lifetime,” said Dr
Neil Hamilton, Director of the WWF Arctic
Programme.
During a six-month period of intensive
analysis of both existing and new data,
the USGS team, consisting of US and Canadian
researchers, documented the direct relationship
between the presence of arctic sea ice and
the survival and health of polar bears.
Models used by the USGS team project a 42%
loss of optimal polar bear habitat from
the Polar Basin during summer, a vital hunting
and breeding period, by mid-century.
Polar bears depend on sea ice as a platform
to hunt seals, their primary food. But sea
ice is decreasing throughout their arctic
range due to climate change.
“The world is still discussing whether
or not to take rapid action against climate
change," added Dr Hamilton.
“Politicians are fiddling at the edges
while the Arctic wilderness succumbs to
global warming; but in the meantime, they
are sending one of the world’s greatest
species on its way to extinction.”
Martin Hiller, Communications Manager
WWF Global Climate Change Programme
