The Big Four: a WWF update on Greenland’s efforts with regard to species conservation and nature protection
The Big Four: A WWF update on Greenland’s effort with species conservation and nature protection shows that there are no hunting quotas for polar bears, and that in west Greenland the walrus is on the verge of vanishing. The hunting quotas for narwhal and beluga whales are three times higher than those recommended by scientists.
2 degrees is too much!: Evidence and implications of dangerous climate change in the Arctic
WWF believes the global average temperature rise above pre-industrial levels should be kept well below 2°C (3.6°F). But what would a full 2°C global rise mean for the Arctic?
Polar Bear Tagging Video
Polar bears are the top predator in the arctic marine ecosystem and the world's largest terrestrial carnivores. They evolved from brown bears during the Pleistocene, the time period that spanned from 1.8 million to 11,000 years ago. The polar bear's coat, covering it completely except for the nose and foot pads, is superbly adapted to Arctic environments, where temperatures rarely exceed 10 °C (50 °F) in summer and typically hover around -30 °C (-22 °F) during winter.
Polar Bears at Risk
The effects of reductions in sea ice extent and thickness, shorter periods of maximum ice extent, as well as changes in sea ice dynamics and structure, may vary in different areas of the Arctic, but all have the potential to negatively influence the condition and reproductive success of polar bears and their prey. This report discusses the risks that are threatening the future of the polar bear and highlights some of the work that WWF is doing to save this unique species.