Polar Bear with Cubs

Polar bears depend on sea ice, and during summer months they migrate up to hundreds of kilometers to remain near it. Polar bears use sea ice as a platform for hunting ringed seals, their main source of both food and water. But as sea ice disappears, polar bear habitat is literally melting away. Disappearing ice robs them of their hunting grounds, breeding sites, and travel routes, forcing them to exhaust themselves swimming long distances to land. Scientists believe polar bears will not survive if predictions of complete sea ice loss come true.

Scientific name: Ursus maritimus
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
Endangered Species Act List: Threatened
Region: Arctic