Polar Bears

The only natural habitat for polar bears is in and around the Arctic Circle. With climate change, the arctic circle and it’s ice caps are melting at astounding rates. This is making a huge impact on polar bear population and could be the determining factor in their survival. According to the World Wildlife Fund, polar bears are considered a vulnerable species, with an estimated population of 22,000-31,000, and there is an estimated high risk of decline. This begs the question: are we doing enough to stop this steady decline? And if not, what more can be done?


A popular trend on social media this year emerged as the “10-year Challenge”. Social media users posted pictures of themselves from 10 years ago, and pictures of themselves from 2019. The one that struck me the most was the above image, which shows polar bears in 2009 and in 2019. The image demonstrates the harsh reality of the starvation and habitat loss that polar bears are currently facing. The first polar bear is a healthy weight and the ice behind him is solid, while the second polar bear tells an entirely different story. He is visibly malnourished and underweight, while the ice behind him is broken and scarce.



If we don’t help save the polar bears, future generations will not get to enjoy them as we have. There also could be potential devastating effects on other populations as a result of the extinction of polar bears. In addition, the polar bear population is not the only population being affected by climate change. Many animal species and populations are being harmed due to this phenomenon. This begs the question: what can we do? What can be done to curb climate change and stop the decline in polar bear population? 

Comments

Anonymous said…
I believe it is less of “future generations will not get to enjoy them as we have” and more of we need to prevent “the extinction of polar bears”. Climate change is a factor around the world, and its cause can be related to many factors. One of which is the production of trash which in turn pollutes the Earth. By being more conscious of what we throw away that can potentially be recycled we save tens of thousands of animals from dying. By simply being more conscientious of what we throw away and possibly how we can recycle things, waste per person can be reduced by up to 50%. Personally, I feel i can make more of an effort to clean the things I recycle so that they have a better chance of actually being recycled and not thrown away. It is a sad sight to see, however what the polar bear is experiencing is totally preventable, it’s just a matter of if we can all make a collective effort to be more conscious of the world we live in.
January 28, 2019 at 1:28 PM
Anonymous said…
I probably wouldn’t have recognized the other picture of the polar bear as an actual polar bear. Polar bears are portrayed to media as healthy and also in books so personally it was shocking to see the other picture of the starved polar bear. We definitely need more awareness, and I’m not sure if that everyone has seen the polar bear’s current state. The melting of the arctic plays directly with climate change, and if people made it more of an issue to fix climate change by reducing the amount of fossil fuels they use the artic would also have a chance to restore and this would lead to the polar bears to be able to live like they used to. Polar bears need sea ice to survive and humans are the cause for the sea ice melting. If the climate continues like this polar bears might disappear and our future generations will not be able to see them.
January 28, 2019 at 2:30 PM
Anonymous said…
As we selfishly continue destroying out Earth through practices that are profitable rather than smart. We are not the only ones who live on Earth. It is our job to protect the Earth so that animals like polar bears have the habitats they need to live. The second photo of the polar bear is something I have never seen before. Without knowing that there is an issue of climate change that is very real, people who are major contributors to climate change might not feel motivated to change their ways. I think a way to combat this issue is to bring attention to it so that everyone is aware.
January 28, 2019 at 5:11 PM
Anonymous said…
There are a variety of problems that are causing the polar ice caps to melt, all tracing back to humans. Whether it is emissions from cars to deforestation, we seem to be at the center of the problem. Not all hope is lost though because if we decide to make an effort to reduce our effect on global warming, we could make a huge difference. If we start switching to renewable resources and stop “sprawling” across America, we can make an impact. However, these changes will not just happen overnight. In order to make a change, educating the world about these environmental impacts should be the number one priority. After seeing the devastation that humans have on the environment, people will start to see change must occur.
January 28, 2019 at 7:11 PM
Anonymous said…
Expansion of technology and prosperity of new ideas are a great strength and need of mankind. However, a question comes to mind: At what cost can we advance our current generation? Many new advancements and our reliance on fossil fuels is causing habitats and animals to cease to exist. The reality of polar bears not being strong, powerful, and healthy bears we have known our whole lives is extremely sad to see. We as a whole need to work together to use renewable resources and we need to stop climate change. New regulations need to be passed at all levels to stop the increase of carbon emissions and we need to save the icecaps. We need to not life a selfish, money grabbing life and learn to love the environment and the animals that live here. Something must be done.
January 29, 2019 at 7:26 AM
Anonymous said…
This is insane. Us humans are really harming the environment and we barely even realize how severe it is. I think we really need to start regulation levels of carbon before it is way too late😞. It is so sad to see how our world is detriorating right before our eyes and we are barely doing anything to help. When i was born, polar bears were presumed to be strong, curious and beautiful animals. Nowadays, they are skinny, weak and dying. Let’s regulate these levels of carbon before they are all gone.
January 29, 2019 at 10:30 AM
Anonymous said…
We need to move towards the mass implementation of green energy. Wind farms, solar panels, and many otherscould help lead to the decline in need of greenhouse gas releasing fossil fuels. Many argue that solar panels are expensive and not effective enough. But imagine if we had solar panelfeilds. There are mass expansions of land such as death valley and the navad desserts. And with the cost worry. I personally would rather pay one large payment once, vs medium payment forever.
January 29, 2019 at 2:49 PM
Anonymous said…
This urgent and heartbreaking problem is very severe not only in the north but around the world. The main reason for climate and change in temperatures that I believe is due to our excessive use of non-renewable resources: coal, oil, natural gas. Although there could be improvements and advancements in finding better renewable sources, I believe there are plenty of renewable energy sources that we could employ in our daily lives to help reduce the climate change. There are geothermal energy, solar energy, wind energy, and more. If we could start building houses that contain systems of utilizing these energy, if we could start using cars that utilize these energy, if we could raise even a little more awareness of this unfortunate issues, I believe we could save not only polar bears but every little important species in the north and in the entire earth.
January 29, 2019 at 7:23 PM
Anonymous said…
The impact that us humans have on not only ourselves, but other species is unbelievable. To be apart of the reason that these polar bears are going from healthy to malnourished is sickening. Big businesses and society as a whole must start thinking in terms of what is good for the environment and how to preserve the earth we live on rather than only what is convenient for us. Our increased reliance on things that are harmful to the world around us is clouding our judgment and causing the slow decay of animals like the polar bears. First thing to be done is to raise awareness like you are doing.
January 29, 2019 at 8:33 PM
Anonymous said…
It is known around the globe that climate change is happening at a fast pace becuase of humans. It isn’t a surprise that animals are suffering and losing their habitats. What was very shocking was the 10 year challenge picture. Global warming and climate changes are definitely occurring however, many people are not thinking much about it. What we can do to slow down the process is prevent pollution and harm towards nature. Walking and biking to close places instead of riding the car or carpooling is a way to burn less fossil fuels. Also, using solar energy with solar panel can be a way too. If we use less and less limited resources, i believe that there can be a change and not only help the polar bears but other inhabitants.
January 30, 2019 at 7:01 AM
Anonymous said…
It is easy to forget the impacts of climate change, but that picture really reminded me how drastic of a situation our planet is in. The impacts that human’s have on our Earth is more than just some ice melting, but it is causing the actual suffering of animals as their habitats are being destroyed. With the further development of technology, I believe that we can transition to forms of technology that don’t rely on fossil fuels and create minimal waste. If possible, we can also create humanitarian missions in order to preserve different species and save them from extinction.
January 30, 2019 at 11:32 AM
Anonymous said…
When I saw the second picture, I was very shocked and disgusted that our actions have caused animals to suffer like that. I think that many people that the melting ice caps is an issue for the future, and they don't have to worry about it yet. But pictures like those show that melting ice caps are already causing harm to species through habitat loss. It's very unfair to polar bears and other arctic animals.
January 30, 2019 at 4:02 PM
Anonymous said…
In out society today, we’re plugged into technology constantly. The fact that news like this only appears maybe once in the news is heartbreaking, considering this is a major issue in the tundra biome. The polar bears are not the keystone species, however they prey on the arctic foxes, in which they have two species approaching extinction. Their habitat is changing due to climate change, progressively getting smaller and smaller. The only way to fight this is to try; concentrate at the problem in hand. There’s plenty of environmental issues but we all get distracted by today’s flashing lights, catchy titles, and distracting fake articles. Most people toss environmental issues over their shoulders, but there’s no more time to do that anymore. Earth is in serious danger of racing towards inhabitable.
January 31, 2019 at 8:19 AM
Anonymous said…
I think it suprising that animals are dying and even though we all know the effect of the the melting icebergs we don’t really emotionally connect with the topic because we are not well informed. There are many environmental problems but I think we take advantage that the environmental can’t speak for itself. I think the only way to create change is creating sad infomercials and out them up all over social media. Also discussing this topic in school assemblies.
January 31, 2019 at 11:43 AM
Anonymous said…
People tend to focus on the aspects of climate chage that directly affect humans, and sometimes forget about the effects it has on other living organisms. As the 10 year challenge shows, animals such as polar bears, are experiencing the negative effects of climate change. If people continue to see images and coverage of the negative effects of climate change, I beleive that society as a whole will be more motivated to take action on climate change. It is simply unfair that animals habitats are being harmed because of reckless human activity.
January 31, 2019 at 8:18 PM
Anonymous said…
The second picture of the polar bear really startled me. I wouldn’t have even known that it was a polar bear. I think we try to spread conservation of the environment, but not enough efforts are being made to actually put what’s on paper in place. Most organizations focus on how the environment is affecting the humans and very few focus on animals like polar bears. By adhering to more sustainable practices and lowering our fossil fuel combustion, we can help decrease little by little the warming of the earth. A way to create awareness and movement for change is to discuss these topics in schools and universities, possible through public speeches and assemblies. Change will start with our generation and it is up to us to spread awareness to avoid the malnourishment of other species.
February 1, 2019 at 11:18 AM
Anonymous said…
We should use more aggressive forms of informing because it’s been an issue that’s transcended more than 10 years which has been made apparent with the ten year challenge. Understandably, it will take time, however with the current rate of preservation to habitat loss, the issue at hand will continue at the already astonishing rate if not more. With the current forms of information, it makes the issue be known but nothing else is brought on to the public except to go to a website to read more on the issue and donate a few dollars. We should instead possibly show the true reality firsthand by recording the tragedy and broadcast it through social media and on the big screens on TV.
February 1, 2019 at 12:25 PM
Anonymous said…
We definitely need to take some action in order to prevent the polar bear from go8ng extinct. The second picture of the malnourished bear truly startled me, at first I thought it was fake. An easy way for us to minimize our carbon emissions would be for us to lower our fuel consumption and revert to a clean fr9m of energy, such as solar or wind energy, However, social media posts such as the 10 year challenge can be utilized for other an8maks, not onrkr polar bears, to help spread the word. If we do t act fast, future generations may not even know what a polar bear is.
February 3, 2019 at 4:09 AM
Anonymous said…
As with many other environmental issues, people are reluctant to take much needed action because the problem is not presented right in front of them. Since it is out of sight, it is out of mind. If people were more exposed to the issue, I feel like they would definitely work to take action and protect the polar bears. This is where we can come in. If we spread this issue around on social media, more people will get exposed to the isssue, and more people will try to make a difference. Another way we can help is by practicing sustainability. If we can reduce waste and limit our own fossil fuel consumption, we can make a big difference.
February 3, 2019 at 5:17 PM
Anonymous said…
Our social media plays a big part of our lives, and it is an excellent way of bringing awareness to these issues that are not very often talked about. We need to know about these things so that we can effectively help solve this problem. The second picture is very hard to look at, as we see that the bear is starving and very malnutritioned. The arctic circle melting is a very pressing issues, and it needs to be dealt with. I think it can be solved with great diligence and hard work from each and every one of us.
February 4, 2019 at 6:14 AM
Anonymous said…
Awareness must be raised of not only the the extinction of polar bears, but also the potential effects of their extinction. Since they are a major predator, their extinction would severely disrupt the food chain in those habitats which could effect the human population a lot more than anticipated. Ozone depletion is a much bigger issue than just the extinction of polar bears, it’s also effecting weather patterns and other food chains, so environmentally sustainable practices need to become more common. In order for that to happen, prices for sustainable forms of energy and transportation are vital.
February 4, 2019 at 7:12 AM
Anonymous said…
Polar bears play a huge part in their ecosystem as one of the primary consumers of their region, and if they were to go extinct, it could cause a big problem in that food chain. If we were to do something about the rapid depletion of polar bears, we could not only help the food chain of the surrounding area, but also ourselves. We as humans rely on food and other natural recsources, and if they were to be taken away, then we would face the consequences in the long run.
February 4, 2019 at 7:29 AM
Anonymous said…
The comment that “future generations will not get to enjoy them [polar bears] as we have” makes sense when it comes to describing the declining of ocean quality, but I personally do not think it pertains to polar bears as they are important creatures that are the vitality of the Arctic. Polar bears need sea ice and we need to prevent it from melting. Many other species that live in the same environment are migrating due to this reason, which should not be the case. The burning of fossil fuels should be reduced and everybody needs to make issues such as this their problem. Stricter rules should be enforced on big companies that are contributing to global warming. People are concerned that the economy will suffer if we care about the environment, but actually enforcing environmental precautions will contribute to more of a yield in the future. The US especially needs to update its climate change protocol and take it more seriously, making it a center of its focus. There are only twelve years left to improve the harmful effects of climate change and that is a dire call.
February 4, 2019 at 8:57 AM
Anonymous said…
We need to focus more on the future extinction of polar bears. The main resource for the survival of the polar bears are the ice and due to climate change they are melting all over the world. In order to help this problem we can make an effort to minimize our carbon emissions. As a result we need to work together, using more renewable sources to help the climate change issue and be more careful with carbon emissions from factories and more to not only help the polar bears but also for all the other species that are almost at extinction due to these issues.
February 4, 2019 at 3:24 PM
Anonymous said…
It’s really quite sad to see the deterioration of ice and what many polar bears consider their home. Although I do not think there is much hope that can be done specifically in restoring the majority of ice that has been lost, I do believe that the human race can do a better job in limiting human addition to climate change. In addition to that, humans can also help polar bears in their breeding rates. One of the things that made the survival of panda bears successful was the efforts made by Chinese organizations. In China, efforts were made to take in pandas and give them the necessary environments and requirements needed to breed. By providing medication and providing nutrients, the organizations were able to breed many many more pandas and allow them to live happy lives. Perhaps something similar to this can be done for our polar bears.
February 4, 2019 at 6:21 PM
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
February 4, 2019 at 7:06 PM
Unknown said…
Everyone knows that polar bears are largely affected by climate change, but not everyone knows what we can do to help them. Simple, daily things like saving water, turning off unnecessary lights, and reducing electricity usage can make a drastic change if enough people make these changes for a period of time. Not only polar bears, but all of the other animals living in the Arctic will be in danger of not having a home if we do not make a change. If this continues, polar bears and other animals will become endangered and might have to be saved by turning to zoos or wildlife preserves as their last option. For their sake, let's do our part to make sure it doesn't come to that.
February 4, 2019 at 7:08 PM
Anonymous said…
The main source of climate change is fossil fuel burning, which is pretty obvious. So we simply need to stop burning fossil fuel. Unfortunately, that's nigh impossible, because fossil fuel burning had far too many benefits. Even so, alternative energy sources is well abled to provide the necessary energy of the average American. Solar panels in the deserts will provide as much power as fossil fuels. Why we don't see solar energy as common is because of the economy: nobody's buying solar energy because it's too expensive, and no one's trying to make it cheaper because nobody's buying it. Once again, it is the responsibility of the government to fix the economy, by subsidizing the solar energy industry.
February 4, 2019 at 9:50 PM
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