The white or polar bear is a powerful and beautiful animal, a true symbol of the Arctic. However, the indigenous inhabitant of the North was under threat. The number of polar bears in the Arctic has greatly decreased in recent years. Scientists say that in half a century they may not remain on our planet at all. In 2008, the polar bear was declared endangered and listed in the Red Book.
Why are polar bears declining?
Scientists-zoologists give several reasons for the decline in the population of polar bears. Among them are natural and anthropogenic factors.
One of the main reasons why the number of polar bears is decreasing can be considered climate warming and the associated reduction in the area of polar ice. And this greatly affects the life of the polar bear, since this beast lives by hunting seals. Over the past 30 years, the area of ice in the Arctic Ocean has decreased to 5.02 million square kilometers. km against an average value of more than 7 million square meters. km.
Climate warming
Climate change has led to warmer waters in the southern Arctic Ocean. Some cold-loving fish (for example, polar cod) moved to more northern areas. And behind them, the population of ringed seals, which the polar bear hunts, also moved. Part of the bears went north to follow the seals, and the rest is experiencing great difficulties with food. As a result, bears begin to eat food that is not typical for them - bird eggs, lemmings, berries.
Starved animals are increasingly coming out to human habitation. In search of food, they rummage through garbage dumps and landfills, they pose a danger to humans. Such animals are shot, which also explains why the number of polar bears is declining.
Also, eating food waste, they often swallow dangerous things such as plastic wrap, nylon nets for food, pieces of glass, and are poisoned by the remnants of household chemicals.
Lifestyle
This powerful and agile beast leads a wandering life. In the spring, when the ice begins to melt, polar bears move north. Wandering from ice floe to ice floe, they make long transitions. They dive into the icy water while hunting or to move to another ice floe.
Climate warming has caused the resulting ice to become thinner and less durable. It breaks more easily and crumbles on impact. Therefore, polar bears have to swim longer distances than before. This is due to the huge waste of energy, and therefore food.it takes more to recover. The cubs may simply not overpower such a journey and drown.
Due to the changed ice conditions, many she-bears do not have time to return to land to procreate. Increasingly, they are forced to dig ancestral lairs right on the ice floe, which increases the risk of death for both the babies and the she-bear herself. After all, the appearance of cubs and feeding them takes a lot of strength from her, and she cannot leave the den to hunt until the children can follow her.
Hunting
Another reason why the number of polar bears is declining is poaching. While they were the object of hunting only for a few indigenous people of the North, this was not noticeable. But when they began to hunt bears with modern weapons, using helicopters, the number of animals shot off increased dramatically. Entire tours were organized to hunt the polar bear. And the skin of the killed Arctic predator was then proudly shown to the guests.
Now the polar bear is protected, but this is not an obstacle for poachers.
Diseases
Scientists are trying to find out more precisely why the number of polar bears is declining. The answers are different. Among the causes are also called diseases, such as trichinosis. It is caused by parasites that live in the muscles of animals. In addition to polar bears, arctic foxes, sled dogs, and seals also suffer from it. Some believe that humans brought the disease to the North.
There is no doubt that polar bears needprotection. Otherwise, our grandchildren may never learn about the strong and amazingly beautiful animal, the nomad of the Arctic, who lived in the harsh North.
