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For: The opinion
The polar bear is one of the most affected species by global warming and the impact is already beginning to be noticed with the decline of specimens in some areas of Canada.
According to a government study in that country, polar bears are rapidly disappearing from the western Hudson Bayin the southern tip of the Canadian Arctic.
Researchers also noted the the number of polar bears drops in the city of Churchilla tourist destination promoted as the “polar bear capital of the world”.
According to the most recent count carried out in late August and early September 2021, the results of which were recently made public, 194 bears were sighted and, from that count, a total population of 618 specimens was estimateddown from 842 five years earlier.
Hudson Bay polar bear population plummets as climate change warms Arctic – Reuters Canada
This is a lie. There are all sorts of studies confirming papal bear populations in Churchill are thriving.
And climate change is a frigging lie. Not warming. nope. https://t.co/GlkARsA90I
— * W. Brett Wilson * (@WBrettWilson) December 24, 2022
According to the study, comparison with estimates from 2011 and 2016 aerial surveys suggests that West Hudson Bay population may be declining galore.
“The Observed declines are consistent with predictions data on the demographic effects of climate change on polar bears”, can be read in the research.
Effects of climate change on polar bears
According to a WWF report, polar bears rely on sea ice as a platform from which they can hunt seals, rest and breed. The thickness of the Arctic sea ice has decreased by 40% in the last 30 years.
During decades, the amount of summer sea ice has decreased and has melted for longer periodsso bears are forced to travel longer distances to stay close to the rapidly receding ice.
In most areas and when the ice melts, the bears reach the mainland and rely on fat stores until the ice freezes again, allowing them to hunt again. However some polar bears may suffer from malnutrition and, in extreme cases, especially females with cubs, can starve.
When there is less sea ice, common prey species may be less accessible and ice-dependent seals are predicted to visit warmer Arctic regions less.
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