| The impact of global warming on polar bears is having | | | | death due to lack of a reliable food source. In 2007 a |
| far reaching effects. Polar bears are a part of a very | | | | record low in the surface area of summer pack ice |
| delicately balanced ecosystem. As global | | | | was recorded in the Arctic ocean, equivalent to an |
| temperatures rise the Arctic sea ice is melting and it | | | | area the size of Texas and Alaska combined! |
| is reported by the U.S. Geological Survey Office that | | | | NASA scientists project that by 2012 all the pack ice |
| there will be a reduction of as much as 2/3's in the | | | | may well be gone. Floating sea ice platforms is |
| polar bear population over the next 50 years. | | | | becoming less accessible to the bears as they are |
| As the ice melts these iconic animals are losing their | | | | further out from shore. It is suspected that many |
| habitat and hunting grounds. They mainly hunt seals, | | | | bears are drowning due to rougher seas and |
| which live on arctic ice. The seals swim under the | | | | retreating pack ice. |
| pack ice, surfacing through breathing holes for air and | | | | The impact of global warming is affecting their |
| to rest upon the ice. The polar bears lay in wait at | | | | feeding grounds due to the fact that rougher seas |
| these breathing holes, to capture their prey. | | | | and less pack ice means that seals can't as easily |
| Due to the significant loss of ice and the rapidly | | | | access the rich feeding grounds. This means that |
| disappearing hunting grounds of these magnificent | | | | there are less seals able to access food, which |
| creatures, up to 70% of them do not survive | | | | means that their numbers are declining. Less seals |
| beyond 3 years of age. Many are simply starving to | | | | means a decrease in the food source for polar bears. |