What was the population of polar bears?

The current scientific consensus places the worldwide polar bear population between 20,000 and 25,000 animals.

How many polar bears are there in the Arctic?

Many parts of the Arctic are so remote that scientists can only make rough estimates about how many polar bears are there. In fact, of the 19 polar bear populations, 11 are classified as data-deficient. Polar Bears International helped fund studies to refine techniques for taking accurate population counts by air.

When did the number of polar bears increase?

Yet many reports show that the total number of polar bears has increased since the late 1960s and 1970s. This growth in population is often attributed to the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in 1972.

Where do polar bears live in the world?

Polar Bears inhabit most arctic regions, 60% of which are estimated to be in Canada. Their populations are commonly divided into 19 subpopulations, 13 of which are located in Canada.

Is there a polar bear population in Canada?

The status of certain populations is unknown. But studies by the United States Geological Survey show that some populations may, in fact, be shrinking. One USGS study from 1984-2004 showed that the number of polar bears in the West Hudson Bay stock, in Canada, decreased from 1,194 polar bears in 1987 to 935 in 2004, a 22 percent drop.

How many of polar bears are left on Earth?

While hunting has long been an issue, global warming has done a number on polar bears’ habitats recently. In fact, the World Wide Fund for Nature (or WWF) estimates that there are only 22,000 to 31,000 polar bears left in the world. Are polar bears endangered 2019?

Are polar bear populations increasing?

Polar bears have become the poster children of global warming. The bears spend most or all of the year living and hunting on sea ice, and the accelerating shrinking of this ice appears to pose a serious threat. The issue has even become politically sensitive. Yet recently there have been claims that polar bear populations are increasing.

Are polar bears hunted?

Over most of the polar bear’s range, polar bears are now mainly hunted by Native peoples, with takes governed by a quota system designed to keep the harvest within the bounds that populations can support.

How are polar bear endangered?

Polar bears are formidable animals. They should be given a wide berth if you encounter one, especially when they are hunting. They are considered an endangered species and require protection by government agencies. Polar bears are endangered due to melting sea ice, global warming, and pesticides.