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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/01/live-webchat-save-polar-bears-climate-change
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| Live webchat: What can be done to save polar bears? | Live webchat: What can be done to save polar bears? |
| (3 days later) | |
| Polar bears are the largest carnivores stalking the earth. A healthy male clocks in at up to 1,700lbs and 8ft in length. | Polar bears are the largest carnivores stalking the earth. A healthy male clocks in at up to 1,700lbs and 8ft in length. |
| But the powerful beasts are acutely vulnerable to climate change. | But the powerful beasts are acutely vulnerable to climate change. |
| How much time do they have left? And what can be done to save the polar bears? | How much time do they have left? And what can be done to save the polar bears? |
| The Guardian is travelling to Churchill, Manitoba to report on conditions of the southern-most population of polar bears in the western Hudson Bay on a trip in co-operation with Explore.org, Frontiers North Adventure and Polar Bears International. | |
| On 6 November, Guardian readers will have a chance to catch up on the latest research on polar bears in a warming Arctic in a live chat with leading polar bear scientists and conservationists. | On 6 November, Guardian readers will have a chance to catch up on the latest research on polar bears in a warming Arctic in a live chat with leading polar bear scientists and conservationists. |
| Be a part of the conversation by posting your questions in the comments below. | Be a part of the conversation by posting your questions in the comments below. |
| Put simply, polar bears are running out of ice. | Put simply, polar bears are running out of ice. |
| There are thought to be between 20,000 to 25,000 bears across the polar region, in Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. | There are thought to be between 20,000 to 25,000 bears across the polar region, in Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. |
| Scientists for the US Geological Survey predicted in 2007 that two-thirds of those bears could be gone by mid-century if current warming trends continued. The researchers also acknowledged their estimate could be conservative. | Scientists for the US Geological Survey predicted in 2007 that two-thirds of those bears could be gone by mid-century if current warming trends continued. The researchers also acknowledged their estimate could be conservative. |
| The sea ice cover – for which the bears are uniquely evolved – has been shrinking under climate change, forcing the bears off of the ice for longer periods and away from their main food source: seals. | The sea ice cover – for which the bears are uniquely evolved – has been shrinking under climate change, forcing the bears off of the ice for longer periods and away from their main food source: seals. |
| Under optimum conditions, the bears spend most of their time out on a frozen Arctic, feeding on seal. | Under optimum conditions, the bears spend most of their time out on a frozen Arctic, feeding on seal. |
| Their bodies are uniquely evolved for the extreme conditions. The bears, insulated by a two to four inch layer of blubber, can withstand extreme cold. They can swim up to 40 miles of freezing seas in a stretch and attain speeds of 25 miles per hour over ice. | Their bodies are uniquely evolved for the extreme conditions. The bears, insulated by a two to four inch layer of blubber, can withstand extreme cold. They can swim up to 40 miles of freezing seas in a stretch and attain speeds of 25 miles per hour over ice. |
| Their hides are actually black, which helps keep them warm, and their fur, lacking pigment, is clear. It's the light that refracts off the clear hair strands that makes them look white. | Their hides are actually black, which helps keep them warm, and their fur, lacking pigment, is clear. It's the light that refracts off the clear hair strands that makes them look white. |
| But those attributes don't help off the ice. Climate change in a warming Arctic is forcing the bears off the ice earlier each spring and delaying freeze-up later into the autumn. | But those attributes don't help off the ice. Climate change in a warming Arctic is forcing the bears off the ice earlier each spring and delaying freeze-up later into the autumn. |
| On the frontline of those changes are the bears of western Hudson's Bay, Canada, the southern-most population of polar bear. Scientists believe they can best predict the future for polar bears under climate change, by studying these bears. | On the frontline of those changes are the bears of western Hudson's Bay, Canada, the southern-most population of polar bear. Scientists believe they can best predict the future for polar bears under climate change, by studying these bears. |
| This area of Hudson's Bay has always been ice-free in the summer months, but now the season of open water begins earlier each spring and lasts longer into the autumn. | This area of Hudson's Bay has always been ice-free in the summer months, but now the season of open water begins earlier each spring and lasts longer into the autumn. |
| That forces bears onto land for longer intervals – and into increasingly close proximity with humans living in the town of Churchill, Manitoba. | That forces bears onto land for longer intervals – and into increasingly close proximity with humans living in the town of Churchill, Manitoba. |
| The town now runs a polar bear alert programme to keep both populations – humans and bears – safe. | The town now runs a polar bear alert programme to keep both populations – humans and bears – safe. |
| Scientists, meanwhile, come to Churchill every autumn to track the bear and monitor their conditions as they return to the ice after the long summer weeks of fasting. | Scientists, meanwhile, come to Churchill every autumn to track the bear and monitor their conditions as they return to the ice after the long summer weeks of fasting. |
| The latest research suggests that polar bears are shrinking because of their months off the ice, and away from their main food source of seal. | The latest research suggests that polar bears are shrinking because of their months off the ice, and away from their main food source of seal. |
| Some female polar bears are losing so much fat they can no longer produce healthy cubs. More cubs are dying at a younger age. | Some female polar bears are losing so much fat they can no longer produce healthy cubs. More cubs are dying at a younger age. |
| The biggest fear for scientists now is that the polar bears may be slowly ageing out of existence. | The biggest fear for scientists now is that the polar bears may be slowly ageing out of existence. |
| Is there any hope left for polar bears? | Is there any hope left for polar bears? |
| On Wednesday, 6 November at 10am EST and 3pm GMT you will have a chance to ask a scientist and a conservationist about the latest research on the state of polar bears – and the efforts to protect them. | On Wednesday, 6 November at 10am EST and 3pm GMT you will have a chance to ask a scientist and a conservationist about the latest research on the state of polar bears – and the efforts to protect them. |
| The webchat participants are: | The webchat participants are: |
| • Steven Amstrup, chief scientist for Polar Bears International, led the US government's polar bear research in Alaska for 30 years, and has also been involved in the international conservation effort. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers. | • Steven Amstrup, chief scientist for Polar Bears International, led the US government's polar bear research in Alaska for 30 years, and has also been involved in the international conservation effort. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers. |
| • Krista Wright is the executive director of Polar Bears International, leading their conservation and education efforts | • Krista Wright is the executive director of Polar Bears International, leading their conservation and education efforts |
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