Polar bear in trouble, not endangered

by imung satriani | April 27, 2008 at 06:13 pm

991 views | 10 Recommendations | 10 comments

The polar bear, a symbol of Canada`s far north as well as the effects of climate change on the sensitive Arctic environment, is in trouble, but it is not endangered or threatened with extinction, a Canadian advisory panel said on Friday.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada gave the the polar bear its weakest classification, that of "special concern", but the Canadian government would nonetheless have to develop a management plan to protect the animals if it agrees with the new label.

"Based on the best available information at hand, there was insufficient reason to think that the polar bear was at imminent risk of extinction," Jeffrey Hutchings, chairman of the independent committee said after the panel met in the Northwest Territories.

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Shirley Bell Designs

at 02:25 on April 28th, 2008

I love painting wildlife, polar bears are beautiful. As I'm in a wheelchair, I find it hard to see them in their natural environment, so I appreciate those who do and photograph them so I can see.

Shirley Bell Designs has contributed a photo to this story.

Nuigurumi

at 03:41 on April 28th, 2008

A larger-than-life snow sculpture of a polar bear at the 2008 Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri) in Sapporo, Japan. http://www.noelleinjapan.com/

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Alan Cave

at 05:12 on April 28th, 2008

Polar Bears have always held a great fascination to me, and when i saw this polar bear playing with a huskey dog it just blew me away with pride, what a heart touching moment this was, i will remember this image all my life as a close up view of how gentle and playful these bears can be.....
Alan Cave.

Alan Cave has contributed a photo to this story.

Dennie C

at 05:53 on April 28th, 2008

Here's a picture of one of the polar bears housed in the New York Bronx zoo.

Dennie C has contributed a photo to this story.

mrapplegate

at 06:32 on April 28th, 2008

The bears were having so much fun. I hope they do not become endangered.

mrapplegate has contributed a photo to this story.

ABD122

at 08:28 on April 28th, 2008

Polar bear are such amazing animals. Heres one of the polar bears at the Cincinnati zoo perking up.

ABD122 has contributed a photo to this story.

richardofparadise61

at 10:42 on April 28th, 2008

I love animals of all kinds. But Polar Bears are like the apex of the animal world for me. I empathise with them so much. Like them, I'm a loner and prefer to live on my terms, but also enjoy those moments with other creatures just having fun.

I have read so many stories of the playfulness of these beautiful animals, with eachother, humans or other animals. The world would be a sadder place without them in it.

theunderminer

at 14:34 on April 28th, 2008

This doesn't mean we can sit back and pretend that they're doing ok, tho! Polar bears are having a very very hard time right now -- and we need to do everything we can to make sure they don't die off.