Polar Bear Subpopulations in Decline

New Report Says Shrinking Sea Ice, Over-Harvesting Are Proving Damaging to Species

(CBS/AP)  A major new international report said shrinking Arctic sea ice is already taking a toll on polar bears.

The Polar Bear Specialist Group also said that too many bears are being hunted in some parts of the Arctic.

The group is part of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the world's oldest and largest environmental network that advises organizations, governments and the United Nations.

It has issued its latest study of polar bears and their habitat.

Polar bears live in subpopulations, which the PBSG studies as 19 distinct groups within the Arctic region.

According to the latest available data, eight of the 19 subpopulations are declining (up from five in 2005), and three subpopulations are stable. One is currently increasing. For the remaining seven subpopulations available data were insufficient to provide an assessment of current trend.

The total number of polar bears is still thought to be between 20,000 and 25,000.

Since the group's last meeting three years ago, when a decline in polar bear populations was reported, quotas (including quota reductions) for the harvesting of the animals have been implemented in Greenland and Nunavut.

While the group affirmed its support for the rights of aboriginal people to hunt polar bears in habitats that are stable, it said that bear populations in Baffin Bay (bordered by Greenland and Canada) and the Chukchi Sea (between the U.S. and Russia) may be suffering from a combination of overharvesting/illegal hunting and changes in habitat, such as loss of sea ice brought about by global warming. In such cases the PBSG recommended harvest quotas be made more sustainable.

The PBSG also issued resolutions asking Canada to reconsider its decision not to declare the mighty predator an endangered species.


For more info:

IUCN Species Survival Commission: Polar Bear Specialist Group

© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Add a Comment

by Sloughfoot July 8, 2009 12:10 AM EDT

"Global Warming" "Global Warming" "Global Warming" now where do you think this Global Warming is coming from? Is it a cause or is it a symptom? We could argue the plight of the Polar Bear for hours or days and it ain't going to change a thing. Ever wild creature on this planet has shown declining numbers in the last 200 year. Those declining numbers are inversely proportional to the increasing numbers of human beings. Blame the industrialized Nations if you may, while the jungle fires of Indonesia block out the sun for weeks on end. It matters not, Man demands and takes the Natural Resources of this planet. Forest and grassland are natural resources and the home to the wild things. It matters not at days end there are a million more mouths to feed and thousands of fewer wild things to share this planet with.

Get used to it, for it is going to get worse. We are our own worse enemy. And when you're pointing that finger, look at the other three and you will find your solution to the plight of the Wild Things.

Reply to this comment

by wmsshields July 6, 2009 8:14 PM EDT

Well, this is certainly proof positive that Al Gore is right, global heating is public enemy number one, and we better pass the climate control bill ASAP or our planet will self destruct. And don't forget to pick up your energy efficient mercury bearing light bulbs next time you are at the store.
Forget about 200 percent utility bill increases and $5/gal gas in the short term. The polar bears are pointing their paws at you for this situation.

Reply to this comment

by ubrew12 July 6, 2009 10:02 PM EDT

I think the cost factor is overdone by people like you.

by au_fait July 6, 2009 5:23 PM EDT

Subpopulaitons are declining, but in other studies the overall population has been increasing. Sounds as if scientists are once again obscurring data so that they can support their hypothesis.

Reply to this comment

by lloydbest1 July 6, 2009 11:24 PM EDT

"According to the latest available data, eight of the 19 subpopulations are declining (up from five in 2005), and three subpopulations are stable. One is currently increasing. For the remaining seven subpopulations available data were insufficient to provide an assessment of current trend."

Kinda says it all, doesn't it? Only one out of the 19 subpopulations is increasing their numbers. Of the seven that we don't know about the chances are very good that more of them are in decline than are stable or increasing.
The article doesn't reference the source, unfortunately, but neither did you.
One thing we should be clear on - and this isn't mentioned in the article either - is these 19 subpopulations are all the polar bears that exist anywhere in the wild. Outside of zoos no other polar bears exist apart from of these 19 groups. Whether their decline is caused by climate wierdness, overhunting or some other factor; that 45% of the subgroups of polar bears are known to be in decline and up to 5 more of them could be is a cause for concern.

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[Sloughfoot]

"Global Warming" "Global Warming" "Global Warming" now where do you think this Global Warming is coming from? Is it a cause or is it a symptom? We could argue the plight of the Polar Bear for hours or days and it ain't going to change a thing. Ever wild creature on this planet has shown declining numbers in the last 200 year. Those declining numbers are inversely proportional to the increasing numbers of human beings. Blame the industrialized Nations if you may, while the jungle fires of Indonesia block out the sun for weeks on end. It matters not, Man demands and takes the Natural Resources of this planet. Forest and grassland are natural resources and the home to the wild things. It matters not at days end there are a million more mouths to feed and thousands of fewer wild things to share this planet with.

Get used to it, for it is going to get worse. We are our own worse enemy. And when you're pointing that finger, look at the other three and you will find your solution to the plight of the Wild Things.

[wmsshields]

Well, this is certainly proof positive that Al Gore is right, global heating is public enemy number one, and we better pass the climate control bill ASAP or our planet will self destruct. And don't forget to pick up your energy efficient mercury bearing light bulbs next time you are at the store.
Forget about 200 percent utility bill increases and $5/gal gas in the short term. The polar bears are pointing their paws at you for this situation.

[ubrew12]

I think the cost factor is overdone by people like you.

[au_fait]

Subpopulaitons are declining, but in other studies the overall population has been increasing. Sounds as if scientists are once again obscurring data so that they can support their hypothesis.

[lloydbest1]

"According to the latest available data, eight of the 19 subpopulations are declining (up from five in 2005), and three subpopulations are stable. One is currently increasing. For the remaining seven subpopulations available data were insufficient to provide an assessment of current trend."

Kinda says it all, doesn't it? Only one out of the 19 subpopulations is increasing their numbers. Of the seven that we don't know about the chances are very good that more of them are in decline than are stable or increasing.
The article doesn't reference the source, unfortunately, but neither did you.
One thing we should be clear on - and this isn't mentioned in the article either - is these 19 subpopulations are all the polar bears that exist anywhere in the wild. Outside of zoos no other polar bears exist apart from of these 19 groups. Whether their decline is caused by climate wierdness, overhunting or some other factor; that 45% of the subgroups of polar bears are known to be in decline and up to 5 more of them could be is a cause for concern.