What Has Been Done to Save Polar Bears From Extinction?

In 2008, the United States Department of Interior (DOI) announced polar bears to be among species threatened, and listed them No. 55 on the Endangered Species List, making it illegal to hunt or kill the breed in the United States. Canada was soon to follow. But there are many factors contributing to the dwindling number of polar bears in the arctic. Outlawing the hunting of these animals was the first of many steps needed to preserve the species, and fortunately there are programs taking extra measures to revive the breed.

What's Being Done About this?

Because there is more than one cause for the declining number of polar bears, there are different approaches to saving the animals. One of the approaches, obviously, is saving the arctic environment where the animals live.

Climate Change

The National Geographic reported in 2007 that as early as the year 2040, the earth could experience its first ice-free summer. Polar bears utilize sea ice as grounds for hunting, mating and as a den for birthing their young. Awareness programs on the effects of climate change are ongoing.

Agency Assistance

The World Wildlife Fund is one such organization, as is Save BioGems, the latter of which quotes that, "as their habitat melts, Polar Bears could be extinct by the year 2050." Many measures have been taken by these, and other organizations, focused on saving the arctic and the animals that live there. Recently, announcements were made in Washington predicting that in just 30 years, most of the arctic ice could be completely melted. There continues to be a big push in the advocacy of climate change, or global warming.

Agency Assistance: World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has initiated a number of programs, including education, establishing wildlife refuge for the animals, extensive research programs, foreign treaties and even advocacy against drilling in or near polar bear territory.

Drilling

Aside from climate change and taking measures to prevent further hunting of these animals, drilling poses a risk to the survival of the species.

Alaska is rich in oil and drilling there is met with opposition. Yes, drilling there could provide a significant amount of petroleum to the U.S., but some claim the source would be completely exhausted in as few as 18 months. In the meantime, the territory slated for drilling is well known polar bear habitat. The noise associated with building oil platforms and high levels of human traffic would affect the animals and their environment, possibly driving away the members of this endangered species that reside there.

References

• as early as the year 2040, the earth could experience its first ice-free summer
• "as their habitat melts, Polar Bears could be extinct by the year 2050."
• in just 30 years, most of the arctic ice --home to polar bears and other animals- could be completely melted

Resources

• number 55 on the Endangered Species List, making it illegal to hunt or kill the breed
• the source would be completely exhausted in as few as 18 months