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 ...
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?
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