| The polar bear and its Arctic habitat | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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You might be thinking, "Why would I want to learn about the polar bear when I live in New Jersey?" As you read on, I think it will become clear to you. Polar bears range throughout the circumpolar north in areas where they can hunt seals. Adult males measure eight to 10 feet tall and can weigh 550 to 1,700 pounds. Females are smaller, standing at 6 to 8 feet tall and weighting 200 to 700 pounds. In the wild, they live for an average of 15 to 18 years. They have adapted perfectly to survive in the Arctic, where winter temperatures can plunge to -50 degrees Fahrenheit. They are protected by two layers of fur and a layer of blubber. They are so well insulated that even in very cold weather, they can overheat when they try to run. The ringed seal is the polar bear's primary prey; polar bears help keep the balance of nature by preventing an overpopulation of seals. Polar bears rely on their sea ice habitat to survive, but climatic warming is causing the ice to break up earlier and it is affecting the survival of the bears. A NASA study found a 2.9 percent decline in total Artic sea ice over the last decade. For a polar bear, not all weeks are created equal. They are losing three weeks at the best time of the year for feeding on the ice. This is resulting in bears weighing about 15 percent less than they did 30 years ago. In Alaska, this is pushing more and more bears onto land for extended periods. Hungry bears are drawn to village garbage dumps and other areas where they come into contact with people and are sometimes shot. The climate changes are happening too fast for the bears to adapt. They don't have time to evolve backwards. What is causing the climate changes? Scientists believe that greenhouse gas emissions are causing this trend. While the polar bear may be affected now, all the ice in the Arctic has to go somewhere if it melts. It means the coastal communities we enjoy now will see rising sea levels which will affect us all. There is no denying that global warming is a politically charged topic right now. I choose not to take any position regarding the politics of this issue, only to educate people about how things that affect an environment as far away as Alaska can also affect people around the globe. If we all take more of an interest in educating ourselves, we will be able to save animals as magnificent as the polar bear as well as our own cats and dogs. Grandmaster Buddy Amato operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy, 589 Palmer Avenue, West Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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