Government subsidized programs can reduce cost of deterrents. An increase in the use of deterrents by hikers, campers, researchers, and civilians against polar bears could greatly reduce unnecessary killing. Different types of deterrents can range from bangers to flare guns, but the most effective one for close encounters is bear spray. al., 2015.)Īn increase in the use and presence of deterrents is highly encouraged in populated areas close to where polar bears roam while onshore. Killing a polar bear is not the answer, especially not when polar bears are considered vulnerable by the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species (Wiig, et. Firearms have lower success rates depending on the individual carrying the gun, and the proximity of the bear to the human. This being said, the use of firearms should be highly discouraged, as this could fatally harm both sides. In order to minimize casualties to both human and polar bear populations, individuals must be protected from one another. 7) agrees that the decrease in salmon catches would therefore drive prices up, which directly affects humans. (Sheets, 2012.) This is concerning to coastal communities that depend on seafood catches economically. 5.) Although the concept of the food chain is much more complex, an increase in a predator population such as seals can cause a decrease in fish (like salmon) populations, which was seen near the Bonneville Dam in 2008. While indirect, polar bears are related to the seafood industry that humans rely on. If this population decline continues, there will be a chain of effects for the ecosystem. Humans shooting bears in self-defense contribute to this decline. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, polar bear numbers are estimated to decrease as great as 30% by 2050 (n.d., para. Polar bears are apex predators and therefore have no natural predators (excluding humans.) In theory, their populations should be unthreatened, but habitat loss and polar bear hunting continue to cause population numbers to decline every year. While many people in the world who may never encounter a polar bear either in the wild or captivity, polar bear populations indirectly affect everyone. Polar bears are most often killed prematurely in self-defense by humans as a result of these encounters. When a human and bear do encounter one another, conflicts between the two arise. They are generally curious animals that wait until there is little to no activity to investigate new things. They do, however wander into human-settled areas due to food attractants. The bears generally do not attack humans for no reason. The presence of polar bears on land cause progressively more conflicts with humans. The decrease in habitat propel polar bears to stay on land for longer periods of time, and propel them to migrate towards human populated areas. Due to these environmental stresses, polar bear population decline is an increasing problem in the arctic. The time polar bears have to find food and mates slowly decline every year as the sea-ice seasons shorten (Molnar et al., 2010, p. With the bears in a longer fast, it is causing the bears to decline in health and thus affecting their ability to reproduce, and have healthy cubs. With declining sea ice comes increased polar bear fasting periods, causing them to remain on land for extended periods (Durner et. Interactions between humans and polar bears have Global warming continues to decrease polar bear habitats by melting sea ice. (The Guardian)Įncounters such as Jakub Moravec’s story have become more common in the arctic circle. Jakub was eventually released from the hospital, and the bear had survived the initial gunshot, however authorities later tracked the bear down and put it down. Jakub was then transported to the hospital to receive treatment for the shallow gashes on his back. The bear was scared away when another camper fired a gun at it to get it off the man. A polar bear had entered his tent and was clawing at his back to try to drag the man closer to get to his head. Jakub Moravec was awoken one night while asleep in his tent on a remote arctic island. Sam English (Building and Construction Technology)
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