Writing

Polar bear
Over thousands of years, polar bears have also been an important part of the
cultures and economies of Arctic peoples. Climate change, and the loss of sea ice
habitat, is the greatest threat to polar bears. All recent indicators show that sea
ice in the Arctic is melting at an alarming rate, a problem that needs to be
addressed immediately if polar bears, and other species unique to the region, are
to survive.


The polar bear has legs 30 cm wide, the size of a plate! - a natural snowshoe that helps the bear to
traverse treacherous ice and deep snow, 3 eyelids: the third helps protect the eyes of the bear, 4 inches
of fat under the skin that keeps it warm.

➢ Food

Polar bears feed mainly on the fat of seals. They have a great sense of smell
and can smell a cadaver more than 20 miles away. Sometimes they also eat
remains of whales and walruses on the coast. The bear accumulates most of
its annual fat reserves between the end of April and mid-July to maintain its
weight in seasons of scarcity. And they can last from 3 to 4 months.


➢ Habitat

Polar bears are found throughout the circumpolar Arctic. They spend most of
their lives on the sea ice and this is vital for them. On this platform they
live, hunt and reproduce. This ecosystem is very important to develop a rich
food chain for seals, food for polar bears.

But global warming affects sea ice and, consequently, bears go out to look
for food in nearby communities, for example garbage. And this can generate
a conflict. Communities, government and WWF are working together to keep
both bears and people safe.

 Why Polar Bears are important?

If we study the behavior of polar bears we realize that the Arctic is in serious
danger. They have been, since 1972, the focus of research and conservation
projects in the Arctic and climate change is the main focus of our global
conservation efforts.

Sea ice now melts earlier in the spring and forms later in the autumn in the bears’
southern range, like Hudson Bay and James Bay in Canada. As the bears spend
longer periods without food, their health declines.

Another problem for bears is the search for oil. How is this affecting the bears? 


• Contact with oil spills can reduce the insulating effect of the bears' fur.

• Poisoning: Polar bears can ingest oil through grooming and through eating
contaminated prey. The ingested oil can cause liver and kidney damage, and
has long-term toxicity.

• Seismic blasting, construction, transportation and operation of oil facilities

can negatively affect polar bears.

• Destruction of habitat

• If a major oil spill occurs at or near areas with high concentrations of polar
bear denning sites, for example Hopen Island in the Barents Sea, it could
have population-wide consequences.


So how can we help the polar bears?

World Wildlife Fund: WWF - Endangered Species Conservation, recognizes the

urgency of protecting habitat for polar bears as they rapidly lose their sea ice
habitat from climate change.

They support the identification and protection of important polar bear habitat
(denning areas and movement corridors, seasonal feeding areas/times, and key
resting areas during the ice free period).

They advocate for governments to recognize and mitigate the effects of climate
change on polar bears.

Reducing industrial impacts: WWF’s goal is to ensure that whatever development

takes place in the Arctic is sustainable, and that it does not damage wildlife
populations and ecosystems to any great extent.

Creating safer communities: To most of the world, the polar bear is a big, white,
fluffy, huggable animal. To people who live with polar bears, these animals are
large and dangerous predators. Keeping polar bears separate from people is better
for both—as polar bears that wander into communities pose a risk to people, and
people often respond by killing the bears.

Ensuring sustainable hunting: WWF supports the right of Indigenous peoples to
continue to sustainably hunt local animals.

Supporting polar bear research.

In the future

By 2040, scientists predict that only a fringe of ice will remain in Northeast Canada
and Northern Greenland when all other large areas of summer ice are gone. This
"Last Ice Area" is likely to become important for polar bears and other life that
depends on ice. Global polar bear numbers are projected to decline by 30% by
2050.

Student: Vilas Carla


Discourse Practice 1.

Bibliography:
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/arctic/wildlife/polar_bear/
threats/