Are declines in sea ice around Greenland threatening polar bears?
By Tory Coffin
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YES
Sea ice is vital habitat for polar bears to hunt seals, travel long distances, and raise their cubs. A recent study focused on Baffin Bay, off Greenland, found that declining sea ice concentrations are causing polar bears to fast for longer periods of time and have fewer cubs, which is expected to continue for the next three generations of polar bears.
Scientists estimate that global polar bear populations will decline by 30% between 2015 to 2050 due to sea ice decline. Polar bears are currently classified as "vulnerable" on the "Red List" of threatened species published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a stage that indicates less risk to a species than "endangered," "critically endangered" or, ultimately, extinct.
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