When you think of the Arctic, you can’t help but think of the magnificent polar bear. While this unique animal has long captured the hearts of the public, its plight is now capturing the attention of scientists. A growing body of evidence shows that the Arctic ice is vanishing much faster than previously expected – placing the iconic polar bear at risk.
Already listed as “vulnerable,” there are an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears distributed around the North Pole, in territories belonging to the U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Denmark (Greenland), and Norway. These animals depend on this frozen landscape for their survival. However, the thick multi-year ice has been shrinking eight to 10 percent per decade - and some climate models suggest that the Arctic could be ice-free in summer within the next10 years.
The disappearing ice interferes with all polar bears ability to hunt seals, their main prey, but particularly on breeding females, who must feed both themselves and their cubs. In some areas, polar bear birth rates have dropped and young bears are showing signs of undernourishment. It is now essential to keep a close eye on polar bear populations if this species is not to become extinct within our lifetimes.
Current efforts to take a census of remaining polar bear populations are extremely expensive, and so can only be carried out every 12-15 years. This is obviously not often enough - considering the speed that the ice is melting. What’s needed is an ongoing, low-cost and effective means of determining how climate change is affecting these beautiful bears.
A polar bear project called WildTrack may be just the thing – it tackles the concerns of the polar bear head-on by using a cost-effective, multi-pronged approach. First, they’re working with a team of geneticists to put some non-invasive genetics identification techniques into place. Second, they’re including traditional information from the indigenous peoples of the Arctic – allowing them to fully participate in the conservation of this species.
WildTrack is a new recipient of support from the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. We are currently awaiting the final report on this project but are excited about the work they’re doing for this splendid species.
