Posted on 12/14/2007 7:16:53 PM PST by digger48
Global warming is blamed for walrus stampede deaths
Associated Press - December 14, 2007 4:23 PM ET
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Some scientists blame the deaths of thousands of Pacific walruses on the disappearance of sea ice caused by global warming.
The walruses died in stampedes earlier this year as they crowded on shorelines along the Asian side of the Bering Strait, which separates Alaska from Russia.
An expert with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the lack of sea ice during the late summer and early fall led to a "pretty sobering year" that was "tough on walruses."
A Russian biologist estimates that as many as 4,000 walruses out of a population of some 200,000 died this year, a death rate that's two or three times the usual number.
"As a result, walruses came ashore earlier and stayed longer, congregating in extremely high numbers, with herds as big as 40,000 at Point Shmidt, a spot that had not been used by walruses as a "haulout" for a century, scientists said."
I guess 100 years ago when the exact same thing happened it was not caused by man, but they are sure this time it is...
Polar bears, a land animal, drowning and walrus,a sea creature stampeding on land. Doom and gloom, the end times.
Cheap shot.
This morning (9/20/2010) The Today show had a 5 minute long story on how climate change is causing Walruses to congregate on land because of the lack of sea ice and they frequently stampede killing many babies.
They presented this as if its a brand new thing, its so funny that this same basic story was paraded in 2007!
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