Arctic fox, polar bear in endangered species list
September 14th, 2010 - 4:42 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Sep 14 (IANS) Arctic foxes, polar bears and musk oxen are now in the list of endangered species, a US-based eco-system watchdog has said.
Polar bears are not the only species in danger from global warming. The US Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) has claimed that 17 Arctic animals are at risk from the melting ice in the region, according to The Telegraph.
Sea ice in the Arctic has reduced to its lowest level since 2007 and scientists predict the area could be largely ice free in summer within 10 years.
Shaye Wolf, the lead author of the report, said Arctic foxes, whales, musk oxen, walruses and four species of seals are all in danger - as well as polar bears.
“The polar bear is the best-known victim of rapid melting in the Arctic, but if we don’t slash greenhouse pollution, many more creatures will follow it down the path to extinction,” she said.
“Some Arctic species have already experienced widespread die-offs and population declines after losing key habitats and food sources; others face extreme weather events or suffer new pressure from predators and pathogens moving northward.”
The CBD also fears that these animals could be in danger if drilling for oil goes ahead in the area.
According to an estimate, eight of the world’s 19 polar bear population are declining as they struggle to raise young and hunt for food on shrinking ice sheets.
- Arctic fox joins polar bear on endangered species list - Sep 14, 2010
- Disappearing ice altering ecosystem subtly - Apr 09, 2012
- Arctic sea ice to melt by 2015: Expert - Nov 10, 2011
- Animals that face new impacts by climate change - Dec 08, 2009
- Polar bears face extinction in less than 70 years because of global warming - Sep 11, 2009
- Ten climate change "flagship" species named at Copenhagen summit - Dec 15, 2009
- Polar bear births could plummet due to climate change - Feb 09, 2011
- Global warming may make the Arctic of today a thing of the past - Sep 11, 2009
- Polar bear census could cost Russia $60 mn - Dec 15, 2011
- Here's how the Arctic will look by the end of this century - Mar 04, 2011
- Arctic sea ice hits second-lowest level - Oct 05, 2011
- Polar bears 'can be saved from extinction by emission cuts' - Dec 16, 2010
- Thickest Arctic Sea ice melting much faster - Mar 01, 2012
- Russian scientist calls for global action to prevent polar bear extinction - Sep 23, 2010
- NASA: Arctic's thickest ice diminishing faster than thin ice - Mar 01, 2012
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