There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
BEARS of the last frontier... The connection between polar bears and their icy habitat is so strong that if ice conditions decline, so does the health of the bears. Bears need ice because their prey need ice. Their almost exclusive dependence on seals means that conditions have to be just right for hunting. For example, bears need more than 50 percent ice cover to hunt and travel efficiently. Research has shown that a reduction in ice cover leads to thinner bears, fewer young, and lower survival rates. Climate change means that the spring thaw comes earlier and the fall freeze-up later, giving the bears less time to hunt.