Global warming has targeted the Arctic with notable severity, threatening the habitats that countless animal species rely on. The polar bear faces a heightened risk of extinction, with population estimates currently ranging from 22,000 to 30,000 individuals in the wild [Greenpeace]. World Polar Bear Day is observed on February 27 to highlight the serious challenges facing this and other Arctic species [Greenpeace].
The polar bear primarily hunts for fish and seals, but a shrinking ice cover has made it harder to pursue its natural prey. With ice loss accelerating, incidents of males scavenging or preying on vulnerable offspring have been reported as a desperate response to scarce food supplies [Greenpeace].
Even when cubs survive initial threats, only about half reach adulthood as they face a harsh, resource-constrained environment [Greenpeace].
Until 1990, Arctic ice demonstrated relative stability despite rising global temperatures. Since then, the region has seen a sustained retreat of ice floes that cannot reliably reform the following year, while new commercial sea routes bring additional pressures and human activity into the Arctic sphere [Greenpeace].
Two polar bears at the North Pole
The increased maritime traffic associated with open seaways contributes to higher greenhouse gas emissions concentrated in the Arctic, a consequence of routes that formerly could not exist due to ice barriers [Greenpeace].
Polar bear populations have declined by roughly 30 percent over the past four and a half decades, and many scientists warn that the species could disappear from Earth by the end of the century if current trends continue [Greenpeace].
The majority of polar bears are found in western Alaska, northern Alaska, Greenland, Canada, and Siberia, with some subpopulations also present in Iceland. In total, nineteen distinct subpopulations have been documented [Greenpeace].
Global warming is not the only threat. Increasing pesticide contamination in certain habitats, ongoing exploitation of Arctic natural resources, and poaching also pose serious risks to this large mammal [Greenpeace].
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Contact information for the environmental department has been redacted to maintain privacy and safety concerns [Greenpeace].