Posted on 12/18/2005 9:46:23 AM PST by ATOMIC_PUNK
SCIENTISTS have for the first time found evidence that polar bears are drowning because climate change is melting the Arctic ice shelf.
The researchers were startled to find bears having to swim up to 60 miles across open sea to find food. They are being forced into the long voyages because the ice floes from which they feed are melting, becoming smaller and drifting farther apart.
Although polar bears are strong swimmers, they are adapted for swimming close to the shore. Their sea journeys leave them them vulnerable to exhaustion, hypothermia or being swamped by waves
*Snip*
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
They're in love. They're gay. They're penguins... And they're not alone.
Seattle man died from injuries sustained while having sex with a horse
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Russian suicidal chicken hangs itself on a fence
Dog suicide hot spot 'nonsense'
He he he he
Bush's fault!!!
Women and minority polar bears hardest hit.
I love question-begging assertions about what's causing what.
Sounds like survival of the fittest to me!
They need to hook up with the penguins who WALK 70 miles, numerous times, just to reproduce.
(shameless plug for "March of the Penguins")
Bingo. If this is true, the smart ones will just move a little further south. The even smarter ones will stay away from people.
Maybe since the envirowackos are telling us that all our landfills are being filled up we should move all our garbage to the Arctic. Polar Bear buffet! They'll be rubbing up against it and making cute little polar bear cubs!
Most amazing and extremely stunning!!
As Antartica has drifted south for millions of years, native penguins have adapted to the most extreme weather on earth.
One common thread connects all creatures through eons on this planet.
ADAPT OR DIE
Yeah! I understand that black polar bears aren't even allowed to sit at the diner.
IF this were not a global warming story, it would normlly be presented to amaze us with how far the polar bears can swim. 60 miles?? In an arctic rich with food for them? And this is because the ice is melting? I think not. I do not believe that a polar bear cannot find food for 60 miles of open ocean.
When the Sun finally causes climate change, the seacoasts of Canada and Alaska as well as the Hudson's Bay area will become warm holiday resorts.
An excess of agressive polar bears would hurt the tourist trade. Gaia knows all and operates in mysterious ways.
Regardless of whether or not you belive that man caused global warming, this is a real problem. Climate change is real and we need to deal with it.
I bought that for one of my 9 yo twins for Christmas, who likes her nick "penguin". And no, she's not a nun.
I have made it into a routine now! :-)
Although polar bears are strong swimmers, they are adapted for swimming close to the shore. Their sea journeys leave them them vulnerable to exhaustion, hypothermia or being swamped by waves.
That's too bad, if the report is accurate. I always liked to watch video of polar bears. Hard to believe they could even survive in that environment.
Many Democrats are actually alien invaders attempting to terraform planet earth.
Most of the Democrat leaders in Congress could very easily star in MEN IN BLACK 3.
Well, maybe peta should spend some time saving the PB's instead of rolling around in a wheelchair dressed like a chicken in NC
I'm sure in the millions of years the Earth has been around there have been many climate changes. How we deal with this one is up to us.
Yeah! I understand that black polar bears aren't even allowed to sit at the diner.
The key here is, the white polar bears need to start hiring more illegal immigrant mexican polar bears, or start outsourcing to polar bears from India and China.
Duh.
Sounds like a new Government program is in order. We need a PBWSC to offer these poor bears. The new "Polar Bear Water Safety Course", to be taught by the Red Cross, will teach these bears how to tread water longer, and swim more efficiently. The smarter-than-average bears will receive a patch - they can sew it on their fur - that will allow them to teach other bears, thus self-sustaining this new and valuable program.
I thought polar bears could swim...
A movie well worth watching! For the whole family!
Or, one might consider, that it is all a natural process. An ebb and flow. The same open water might be providing expanded habitat for whales and other marine life.
I am sure some seals are not too shook up that going up for air doesn't have to mean a quick dart for a bubble of air up through a twelve inch hole in the ice guarded by a fat polar bear.
In nature, the glass is always full..the content of which is for study.
Like humans, they can. But try swimming 10 miles sometime.
As far as I know, white bear will always follow the ice and not launch himself out to sea. This seems, to me, to be very bogus "research".
"Yeah! I understand that black polar bears aren't even allowed to sit at the diner."
I forget where I read it, but I will look around...but I have read that technically polar bears fur is not "white" Now I am bugged and will be so until I confirm it,,,,Damn it!
Think of it as evolution in action. The bears that can survive the 60-mile swim will be the ones who pass on the genes for such ability. Who knows: in time we may see another aquatic mammal evolve from the polar bear.
By the way, the end of the last Ice Age? Ogg's fault.
Black skin, Clear or translucent hair
The idea that we can change the climate, whether for the warmer or the cooler, is nonsense. The climate of the Earth has been changing for billions of years, not because of or in spite of man. We are NOT going to alter that.
I've purchased a pair of shorts, sun block, and use more ice in my drinks. What have you done to cool the planet?
We can no more change the long term weather patterns than we can prevent our sun fom dying billions of years from now. We'll deal with the results, so long as God allows it.
Actually, how we deal with this climate situation is not up to us.
If science has taught us anything about climate changes of the earth over millions of years, it is that man's puny actions have virtually no influence on our climate.
Most climate arguments that predicate change of the environment on the actions of humans soon fall by the wayside when exposed to true scientic inquiry. Remember the exhortations about the coming 'nuclear winter' about 30 years ago? Simply another fad theory.
I'd like to know what the "evidence' is, especially the evidence that the arctic ice shelf is melting in December. Heck, I can't even get my driveway in Ohio to melt.
Although I agree with your argument, I am applying for a very hefty grant, nonetheless! ;)
"SCIENTISTS have for the first time found evidence that polar bears are drowning because climate change is melting the Arctic ice shelf."
This is good news for the seals.
doesn't their prey have to make simular adjustments?
if bears are drowning, are seals drying out?
Where is PETA and the environazis when you need them.
Those cute little bears should have been plucked right out of that ocean and returned to land pronto.
LOL! Fishing for salmon that native-born polar bears won't fish for.
Okay, I'm ready to join you to stop global warming. What's your plan? Can we be done in a year? How much are we going to warm up the earth? RSVP
The climate of the earth has been changing for billions of years on its own, but that does not mean people cannot have affected it in recent times. Just doesn't logically follow.
The issue of whether or not man is at fault for any alleged global warming is the fulcrum of the entire debate.
If man is not at fault, what do you propose can possibly be done to reverse a natural tide?
Those who assert man is at fault, have a long list of behavioral changes to "solve" the problem. The nature of that list is predominantly Marxist. Odd that in nearly every country where Marx's theories have been and are being put to the test, man's behavior that allegedly contributes to global warming is at its worst.
Yes, I had heard that, too. The hollow fibers act as light guides to direct the warmth down to the bear's skin.
http://www.jayp.net/trivia/animal01.htm
About two thirds of the way down. It just says that the bear's fur is clear. Other interesting tidbits, though.
Sounds like it's one of those "Circle of Life" kind of things.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.