Most Endangered Bears Ranked

Most Endangered Bear Species List Released
Most Endangered Bear Species List Released
Most Endangered Bear Species List Released
Most Endangered Bear Species List Released
Most Endangered Bear Species List Released
Most Endangered Bear Species List Released
Most Endangered Bear Species List Released
''Red List'' of Bear Species Released
More
News
Photos
Most Endangered Bear Species List Released
<< Previous   6 of 8   Next >>
6. Polar Pear

Listed as vulnerable, the world's largest land carnivore is one of six bear species threatened with extinction, according to a new IUCN report released on November 12, 2007.

Estimated at 20,000 to 25,000, the polar bear poulation is imperiled by climate change-induced melting of Arctic sea ice, which the bears depend on for hunting marine mammals, IUCN says. Pollution, tourism, and oil development are also problems, according to the report.

In addition, recent U.S. government studies suggested two-thirds of polar bears could be extinct by 2050.

• More Photos in the News
• Today's Top 15 Most Popular Stories
• Free Email Newsletter: "Focus on Photography"
—Photograph by Norbert Rosing/National Geographic/Getty Images
 

EMAIL NEWSLETTER Photos and News of the Week

Get the top photos and news of the week from National Geographic News, plus occasional breaking-news alerts.

See Sample >>
Please enter a valid email address
Privacy Policy

MOST VIEWED NEWS

Deepest-Ever Fish Caught Alive on Camera

Heavy Metal-Eating "Superworms" Unearthed in U.K.

SPACE PHOTOS THIS WEEK: Mercury Close-up, More
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS




 

Photo and Headline Widget

Put our latest news and photos on your Web page or desktop—automatically updates! See Sample
Download Widget