Polar bears are in danger due to climate change

The polar bear is a species of carnivorous mammal of the bear family. It is

together with its relative, the Kodiak bear, one of the largest terrestrial
carnivores on Earth.It lives in the polar environment and icy areas of the
northern hemisphere. It is the only super predator in the Arctic.

They have a thick layer of body fat and a waterproof coating that isolates them
from air and cold water. They are talented swimmers: they can maintain a pace
of six miles per hour (9.6 kph) by paddling with their front legs while holding
their hind legs flat like a rudder.

They spend more than 50% of their time looking for food. A polar bear can
catch only one or two of the ten seals it hunts, depending on the time of year
and other factors. Since they need large amounts of fat to survive, it mainly
feeds on ringed and bearded seals.

The loss of its habitat, sea ice, due to climate change, is the greatest threat to
the survival of polar bears. However, they also face other threats such as
conflicts with humans, unsustainable hunting and the impacts generated by the
industry.
Polar bears are one of the most emblematic species on the planet, but they face
a bleak future due to climate change. These magnificent animals have adapted
to life in the Arctic and depend on sea ice to hunt and travel.
However, as global temperatures continue to rise, sea ice is melting rapidly and
polar bears are losing their habitats and food sources.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Arctic is

warming at twice the speed of the rest of the world, which causes sea ice to be
reduced by 13% per decade.

This reduction of sea ice has a direct impact on the hunting and mating habits of
polar bears, since they depend on ice to reach their prey. When the sea ice
withdraws in the summer months, polar bears are forced to swim long distances
in search of food, which causes loss of energy and malnutrition. In some areas,
polar bears are also seen looking for food in human settlements, which
increases the risk of conflicts between humans and bears.

Climate change is also damaging the Arctic's food network and decreasing the
food supply of polar bears. As the Arctic Ocean heats up, it leads to a decrease
in phytoplankton and zooplankton, the basic components of the food chain.
This, in turn, affects the populations of the largest species, such as seals, which
are the main prey of polar bears. The decrease in the food supply is causing
greater competition between polar bears and other predators of the Arctic, such
as the Arctic fox, and reducing the general population of polar bears.