Foremost, it should be noted that it is very difficult to keep track of polar bear population numbers. They are incredible predators and cannot be approached easily. They cross many international boundaries over hundreds of kilometres of frozen ice or water. They can also dig into dens or camouflage themselves. Additionally, mark-recapture studies in which bears are tranquilized are very problematic. Drugging is dangerous for the bears and the scientists, and many Inuit people oppose to these intrusive interactions. Having said all of this, all polar bear population data are educated estimates that scientists are able conclude due to research. (Unger, 2012)
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Basic Info:
Polar bears are found in Canada (60% of population), the U.S (Alaska), Greenland, Russia and Norway. They are predators at the top of the food chain and their primary source of food are seals. Polar bears rely on ice for hunting their seal prey. However, due to global warming, the arctic ice is diminishing. This means polar bears have: less access to food (increase starvation), lower cub survival rate, increase in drowning, increase in cannibalism, decreases access to many shelters which in turn is causing their endangerment (Derocher, 2012). |
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