Polar bears to be added to Endangered Species list
May 15, 2008
Austin, Texas (WiredPRNews.com) — As global warming slowly diminishes the quality of life for wildlife across the globe, environmental officials are beginning to take notice and add species after species to the list of the endangered and the threatened.
A report from the Associated Press on Wednesday confirmed that the polar bear, who mostly survives on large glaciers and ice caps, is being considered to earn a spot on the threatened species list. Although not officially confirmed until the formal press conference called for this afternoon by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, government officials are bringing into account the drastic decline of polar ice caps and sea ice which the polar bears heavily rely on to survive.
According to the Associated Press report, “The action comes a day before a court-imposed deadline on deciding whether the bear should be put under the protection of the federal Endangered Species Act.” The study conducted by Interior Department scientists show staggering results that rapidly diminishing sea ice — melting at a saddening pace due to global warming — will result in a decline of at least two thirds of the world’s polar bear population by mid-century.
With the knowledge that sea ice is the primary habitat for the polar bear, Kempthorne previously proposed the protection plan fifteen months ago. However, even with the statistics and undeniable decline of the arctic ice, it is not definite that the polar bear will be listed as threatened. “Recently the United States and Canada agreed to conduct additional research into the future survival of the bear. That memorandum did not mention global warming.”
