There’s
more than one way to catch a fish as the saying goes. The polar bear is
testament to that, throwing their approximate 300 kilos (about 600 pounds)
against the ice until it breaks. Then they smash their massive paws through the
ice to snatch their prey of fish or baby seals from the freezing waters.
But the life of a polar bear is rapidly deteriorating for
those living in Greenland. A recent Arctic Climate Impact Assessment report
shows that in the past decade the region has been heating up twice as fast as the rest of the world.
The ice-capped island of Greenland is about the size of Britain, France and
Italy combined and summer temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius (69 degrees
Fahrenheit) were previously unheard of. Now local residents say you can almost
sail the icy waters year round. This is having an impact on the migration of
the bears because with the disappearing ice they are more likely to stay put.
At the top of the Arctic food chain, polar bears are well
equipped for sub-zero temperatures with their two layers of fur and a layer of
blubber that can measure 11.5cm (4.5 inches) thick. With this sort of
protection from the cold, overheating is more of a problem, especially if they
decide to get up to a jog.