Why is climate change having negative impact on polar bears?

Polar bears have over the years become negative symbol for climate change, and the most obvious negative impact of climate change in reference to polar bears has certainly been the rapid loss of ice in polar areas.

Polar bears depend on ice not only for hunting prey (because early melting of the ice makes it more difficult for the bears to hunt seals successfully) but also for successful breeding.

The latest study by the researchers from the University of Alberta has showed that rapid loss of ice cover has very negative impact on breeding because females are hunting seals on the ice to gather enough energy for the autumn and winter when they will hibernate for up to eight months and give birth.

Less ice means less prey, and less prey means less energy, which in the ends results in fewer cubs.

The scientists calculated that if the ice melts up two months earlier than in the 1990s, there is a 55 to a full 100% chance that all pregnant female polar bears will not have a single cub.

Researchers usually study Hudson Bay polar bear population, and this was also the case in this study. The researchers have calculated that if spring break up in Hudson Bay comes one month earlier than in the 1990s, there is a 40 to 73% chance that pregnant female polar bears will not give birth to a single cub.

Hudson Bay polar bear population currently counts around 900 individuals, down from 1200 individuals a decade ago. The total number of polar bears across the entire Arctic is estimated at around 20,000.

The equation is pretty simple, namely less ice equals less polar bears. Judging by the current levels (Arctic sea ice was at its lowest ever level this January), things are certainly not looking good for polar bears in years to come.

Climate change - The biggest threat to polar bears

Not so long ago hunting was the main threat to polar bear population but now climate change has become the most significant threat to polar bear population. International climate deal that could be agreed in December this year is probably the last chance for polar bears survival. If we fail to stop global warming Arctic will soon be without polar bears because bears need ice to survive.

World needs to act as quickly as possible and seal the climate deal before we lose polar bears. Protecting polar bears and their habitats is important to keep the balance of ecosystems these polar bears are part of. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified the polar bear as a vulnerable species on its Red List of Endangered Species in 2005.

The main reason why climate change is such big threat to polar bears is rapid ice melting. Arctic ice is melting much faster than expected and in 2007 it was the smallest of all time since the measurements began 30 years ago. If the current trend continues Arctic will lose all of its ice before the end of this century.

Why is ice so important to polar bears survival?Polar bears have seals as main prey and they need ice to catch them because in water (though polar bears are excellent swimmers)they are not fast enough to catch them. It is basically the question of not enough food without the ice, and one of the land's largest predators could be lost forever. However climate deal is not only needed for polar bears survival it is of vital importance for our survival as well. Hopefully end of this year will mean new beginning for all of us in terms of climate change.