A Polar Bear Scavenging Abandoned Drums on Wrangel Island in Russia’s Far East (Image provided by WWF/Shutterstock Henry Harrison)
SEOUL, Feb. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) marked International Polar Bear Day on February 27 by releasing a series of videos and images highlighting the rapid loss of Arctic sea ice and its devastating impact on polar bears.
The initiative aims to raise awareness about the urgent need for conservation efforts as climate change accelerates habitat destruction.
International Polar Bear Day was established in 2006 by Polar Bears International (PBI) to draw attention to the threats posed by global warming to polar bears and their fragile ecosystem. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus), the largest land carnivores and apex predators in the Arctic, rely on sea ice to hunt seals.
However, WWF warns that the accelerating loss of ice is endangering their survival. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently classifies polar bears as a ‘Vulnerable’ species on its Red List of Threatened Species.
A Polar Bear Spotted Searching for Food in the Tobolsky Oil Field, Russia (Image provided by WWF/Shutterstock Henry Harrison)
Shrinking Ice and Declining Populations
Over the past two decades, Arctic sea ice has declined by more than 50%. As of January 2025, the average sea ice extent was 13.13 million square kilometers—8.95% lower than the 1981–2010 average of 14.42 million square kilometers.
WWF projects that by 2050, the global polar bear population could shrink by more than 30% due to habitat loss.
Polar bears rely on sea ice to ambush seals when they surface for air. However, as ice diminishes, hunting opportunities decline, leading to malnutrition and lower survival rates.
WWF released footage of polar bears struggling to traverse melting ice and swimming for extended periods in search of stable hunting grounds, emphasizing the growing threat to their survival.
A Polar Bear Cautiously Navigating Fragile Sea Ice (Image provided by WWF/Shutterstock Henry Harrison)
Churchill No Longer a Safe Haven for Polar Bears
WWF also warned that Churchill, Manitoba, often dubbed the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World,’ is becoming increasingly unsafe for the species. Located along the shores of Hudson Bay, Churchill has long been a critical hunting ground for polar bears in October and November.
However, delayed ice formation and earlier melting in Hudson Bay are forcing polar bears to spend longer periods on land, making it harder for them to find food and maintain their weight.
Currently, the ice-free period in Hudson Bay lasts around 150 days per year. Studies predict that a 1.5°C rise in global temperature could extend this period to 155 days, while a 2°C increase could push it to 165–170 days, exacerbating food shortages and threatening polar bear reproduction.
Human-Wildlife Conflict on the Rise
As Arctic ice continues to recede, polar bears are increasingly encroaching on human settlements in search of food. Reports from Greenland and Canada indicate a rise in sightings of polar bears scavenging through trash in villages, a behavior that was once rare.
WWF warns that ongoing habitat loss will likely intensify human-polar bear conflicts, further endangering the species.
“If this trend persists, conflicts between polar bears and humans will escalate, posing risks not only to people but also to the already vulnerable polar bear population,” WWF stated.
With climate change showing no signs of slowing, conservationists emphasize the urgent need for global action to mitigate the effects of warming and ensure the long-term survival of Arctic wildlife.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
