| onse to the disappointment, Ken Salazar | | | | extinction predictions of polar bears, read E: The |
| responded that the ESA is not the right tool for | | | | Environmental magazine. |
| going after polluters despite the fact that The | | | | Polar bears are the world’s largest |
| single greatest threat to the polar bear is the | | | | carnivores and are native to the Artic Ocean and |
| melting of Arctic Sea ice due to climate | | | | its surrounding areas. Adult male polar bears weigh |
| change. For more on Secretary of the Interior | | | | between 880—1,500 pounds on average. |
| Ken Salazar’s ruling, read news magazines | | | | Polar bears have many characteristics that allow |
| like Time, Newsweek and The Economist. | | | | them to survive cold temperatures including |
| Salazaar proponents argue there are better ways | | | | moving across snow, ice and open water, and for |
| and tools to protect the bears such as the Clean | | | | hunting seals, which make up most of their diet. |
| Air Act that limits emissions from vehicles; a bill | | | | Although most polar bears are born on land, they |
| Congress will debate that would cap greenhouse | | | | spend most of their time at sea hunting from sea |
| gas emissions nationwide and a global treaty | | | | ice. For more on characteristics of polar bears |
| limiting emissions, in which the U.S. among many | | | | read National Geographic magazine. |
| other counties will participate in later this year. | | | | Currently the polar bear is classified as a |
| While some scientists predict that if current | | | | vulnerable species, with 5 of the 19 polar bear |
| trends continue, three of the world’s four | | | | subpopulations in decline. After many international |
| major polar bear populations could be extinct by | | | | restrictions and controls were put on hunting polar |
| 2075, these predictions are largely controversial. | | | | bears many populations have rebounded. |
| Many scientists believe polar bears will adapt to | | | | However, the threat of hunting is not obsolete; |
| their changing habitats and find new ways to | | | | the hunting of polar bears remains important in |
| survive. For more on the various survival and | | | | the cultures of Artic indigenous people. |