As one of the strongest and largest carnivores on land, polar bears should represent power. Instead, they’ve become the emblem of climate change. These marine mammals, synonymous with the Arctic, are facing an existential threat due to rising temperatures.
With paddle-like paws to traverse the ice and thick hair, polar bears are equipped to survive freezing temperatures. While polar bear fur is actually translucent, it appears white as it reflects the sun's rays. Their skin underneath is black, which absorbs sunlight to create the perfect system for insulation.
Polar bears do most of their feeding in spring during the seal pupping season when they can take advantage of a seal mother and her pups. During this time, a polar bear will bulk up for the summer months when they rest. But with global heating causing the polar ice to melt year-round, their hunting grounds are shrinking and their food supplies are diminishing.
Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red list, there is still time to save polar bears. Scientists and conservationists at Polar Bears International are working to educate people and protect the iconic animals through the help of donations. By combating climate change and halting temperatures from increasing, polar bears can recover from the threat of human impact.
Footage and photos by Polar Bears International and KT Miller were used in the creation of this film.
