International
Polar Bear Day observed on February 27 was
created by Polar Bears International to raise public awareness of the impact of
sea ice loss and climate change on polar bear populations. The future of polar
bears is under serious threat from climate change and it is
our responsibility to act now to save them. Polar bears are considered aquatic
mammals, protected from the bitterly cold air and water they come into contact
with on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean by a thick layer of body fat and a water-repellent coat.
International Polar Bear Day serves as a crucial reminder of the issues at
stake if we are to protect these amazing species in the future as their home
melts away beneath them.
In the
early 2000s, polar bear populations began to decline as a result of climate
change, and this is when International Polar Bear Day came into existence. Sea
ice was melting at an alarming rate as the Arctic region warmed. Polar bears
need sea ice to hunt and breed, so its disappearance threatens their survival.
International Polar Bear Day was created in 1994 by the non-profit organisation
Polar Bear International to raise awareness of the plight of polar bears.
The
intention was to raise public awareness of the impact of climate change on
polar bears and their habitats and to motivate people and organisations to take
action to protect them. First celebrated in 2011, International Polar Bear Day
has become a global event that unites people, organisations and governments to
raise awareness of the value of polar bear conservation.
