Difference between revisions of "Polar bear"
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(Rewrite of several sections to give a more accurate picture of population changes. See talk for the complaint that led to this, and I'll also sum up this edit there in a few.) |
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Polar bears [[hibernate]] through much of the winter, usually in an excavated snow den. Their normal diet consists mainly of [[seal]]s, though in Canada they have been observed to take prey as small as [[lemming]]s. A large polar [[bear]] can stand 11 feet tall and weigh more than 700 pounds. | Polar bears [[hibernate]] through much of the winter, usually in an excavated snow den. Their normal diet consists mainly of [[seal]]s, though in Canada they have been observed to take prey as small as [[lemming]]s. A large polar [[bear]] can stand 11 feet tall and weigh more than 700 pounds. | ||
| − | [[ | + | Polar bears have been known to [[interbreed]] with [[grizzly bear]]s in the wild, producing a polar-grizzly hybrid.<ref>MSNBC: [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12738644/GT1/8199/ "Wild find: Half grizzly, half polar bear"]</ref> |
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| − | Polar | + | ==Population and Protection== |
| + | In the 1960s and 1970s, hunting had a major impact on the bear population, reducing the population to levels that prompted the five nations with polar bear populations to create and sign the International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears in 1973.<ref name="bearfacts">Polar Bears International: [http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/bear-facts/ Bear Facts]</ref> | ||
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| + | Since these conservation efforts had been made, the world population rose to an estimated 22-27,000,<ref>Nature Canada: [http://www.naturecanada.ca/climate_change_polar.asp Climate Change and Polar Bears]</ref> even though there is no adequte census.<ref name="bearfacts"/> | ||
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| + | Still, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) classified the polar bear as a "vulnerable species" on the "Red List of Threatened Species".<ref>2007 IUCN Red List: [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/22823/all "Ursus maritimus"]</ref> The given reason was not hunting, but rather the impact of global warming on their habitat.<ref>''Global climate change posses a substantial threat to the habitat of polar bears.'' - 2007 IUCN Red List: [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/22823/all "Ursus maritimus"] (Justification section)</ref><ref>''"I don't think there is any question polar bears are in danger from global warming," said Andrew Derocher of the World Conservation Union, and a professor of biological sciences at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. "People who deny that have a clear interest in hunting bears."'' - Telegraph.co.uk: [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/09/wpolar09.xml " Polar bears 'thriving as the Arctic warms up' "]</ref><ref>''Climate change is the main threat to polar bears today. A diminishing ice pack directly affects polar bears, as sea ice is the platform from which they hunt seals. Although the Arctic has experienced warm periods before, the present shrinking of the Arctic's sea ice is rapid and unprecedented.''- Polar BEars International: [http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/bear-facts/ Bear Facts]</ref> | ||
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| + | ==Activism== | ||
| + | The polar bear has become a "symbol of global warming caused by humans" in the eyes of environmentalists. Some groups even went as far as suing the Interior Department with the aim of adding polar bears to the list of threatened species.<ref>International Herald Tribune: [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/28/news/bear.php "Melting arctic ice pushes polar bear population closer to the edge"]</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | These activists try "to use the Endangered Species Act to force the U.S. government to take action on global warming". Critics have pointed out that global warming activists should address climate change directly.<ref>USA Today: [http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/2008-03-09-polar-bears_N.htm "Polar bears caught in a heated eco-debate"]</ref> | ||
==In popular culture== | ==In popular culture== | ||
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Digitally animated polar bears starred in a series of [[Coca-Cola]] advertisements that ran during the 1990s. | Digitally animated polar bears starred in a series of [[Coca-Cola]] advertisements that ran during the 1990s. | ||
| − | == | + | ==See also== |
| − | + | *[[Global warming controversy]] | |
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| − | |||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 00:04, March 12, 2008
| Polar bear | |
|---|---|
| 200px | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class Information | |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order Information | |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Ursidae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Ursus |
| Species Information | |
| Species | U. maritimus |
| Binomial name | Ursus maritimus |
| Synonyms | U. eogroenlandicus U.groenlandicus U. jenaensis U. labradorensis U. marinus U. polaris U. spitzbergensis U. ungavensis Thalarctos maritimus |
| Population statistics | |
The polar bear (Ursus Maritimus) is a species of large carnivorous animals native to the Arctic which are noted for their white fur. They have thick blubber to keep warm and are capable of surviving extreme cold, as well as sea ice, snow and frozen land.
Polar bears hibernate through much of the winter, usually in an excavated snow den. Their normal diet consists mainly of seals, though in Canada they have been observed to take prey as small as lemmings. A large polar bear can stand 11 feet tall and weigh more than 700 pounds.
Polar bears have been known to interbreed with grizzly bears in the wild, producing a polar-grizzly hybrid.[1]
Population and Protection
In the 1960s and 1970s, hunting had a major impact on the bear population, reducing the population to levels that prompted the five nations with polar bear populations to create and sign the International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears in 1973.[2]
Since these conservation efforts had been made, the world population rose to an estimated 22-27,000,[3] even though there is no adequte census.[2]
Still, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) classified the polar bear as a "vulnerable species" on the "Red List of Threatened Species".[4] The given reason was not hunting, but rather the impact of global warming on their habitat.[5][6][7]
Activism
The polar bear has become a "symbol of global warming caused by humans" in the eyes of environmentalists. Some groups even went as far as suing the Interior Department with the aim of adding polar bears to the list of threatened species.[8]
These activists try "to use the Endangered Species Act to force the U.S. government to take action on global warming". Critics have pointed out that global warming activists should address climate change directly.[9]
In popular culture
Digitally animated polar bears starred in a series of Coca-Cola advertisements that ran during the 1990s.
See also
References
- ↑ MSNBC: "Wild find: Half grizzly, half polar bear"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Polar Bears International: Bear Facts
- ↑ Nature Canada: Climate Change and Polar Bears
- ↑ 2007 IUCN Red List: "Ursus maritimus"
- ↑ Global climate change posses a substantial threat to the habitat of polar bears. - 2007 IUCN Red List: "Ursus maritimus" (Justification section)
- ↑ "I don't think there is any question polar bears are in danger from global warming," said Andrew Derocher of the World Conservation Union, and a professor of biological sciences at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. "People who deny that have a clear interest in hunting bears." - Telegraph.co.uk: " Polar bears 'thriving as the Arctic warms up' "
- ↑ Climate change is the main threat to polar bears today. A diminishing ice pack directly affects polar bears, as sea ice is the platform from which they hunt seals. Although the Arctic has experienced warm periods before, the present shrinking of the Arctic's sea ice is rapid and unprecedented.- Polar BEars International: Bear Facts
- ↑ International Herald Tribune: "Melting arctic ice pushes polar bear population closer to the edge"
- ↑ USA Today: "Polar bears caught in a heated eco-debate"