About Polar Bears
Polar bears are the largest land carnivores, females usually weighing around 331-551 lb, males weighing around 772-1,433 lb, the record being 2,209 lb. Compared to other bears, polar bears have more slender bodies and longer necks and heads. The polar bear's fur is not white like you may think, each hair is actually a clear hollow tube. They look white because the hollow hairs reflect the light. Polar bears live in the Arctic region, which is a tundra. A characteristic feature of the Arctic tundra is the permafrost, or permanently frozen ground. This means the ice caps are crucial to the survival of polar bears.
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Causes of endangerment...
The polar bear pictured here is an emaciated victim of climate change. Polar bears depend on sea ice as a platform from which to hunt, breed, and rest. With ice caps melting, the polar bears will have no where to go. The main human activity that is affecting the amount and rate of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions which is a result from the burning of fossil fuels. Another more immediate threat to polar bears would be unsustainable hunting, including unreported and illegal hunting. |
What can we do? What is already being done?
Foundations such as WWF® and Defenders of Wildlife are already helping the polar bears, and many other endangered animals, by spreading the word about how we as humans are threatening the environments of these animals, and what we can do to help. These foundations, and many more, accept your donations to help save these animals from being endangered, or worse, extinct. Scientists are currently monitoring the conditions of polar bears in the US, Canadian, and Norwegian regions of the Arctic. What can you do to help? You can support these foundations, and help to spread the word about the endangerment of polar bears and other animals. You can even adopt a polar bear on the WWF® website. So, click the link down below and start saving the lives of polar bears, and other animals, everywhere.
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