Why are the #saveourseaice folks at Polar Bears International, who have being working in Western Hudson Bay for decades, not dancing in the streets of Churchill? Environment Canada’s Polar Bear Technical Committee upgraded the status of Western Hudson Bay polar bears from “declining” to “likely stable” four months ago (details here). Why has this fabulous news not made major headlines around the world?
Figure 1. Environment Canada’s “Map 3: 2014 Canadian Polar Bear Subpopulation and Status Map,” original here. Western Hudson Bay is “WH.”
After years of being told by polar bear specialists and activists organizations like Polar Bears International and the World Wildlife Fund that the Western Hudson Bay (WHB) population is already suffering mightily because of global warming, it now appears that is far from the truth.
Nevertheless, next week (2-8 November, 2014), as they did last year, Polar Bears International is planning another intense campaign (from Churchill, Manitoba) to broadcast the misinformation that WHB polar bears are in big trouble:
“During Polar Bear Week, we focus on how longer ice-free seasons are straining the limits of the bears’ fat reserves, threatening their survival.
The 2014 event is November 2-8. It’s the perfect time to speak up for action on climate change by signing our petition (coming soon).
In addition, we invite you to take the next step to reduce your greenhouse gas footprint by pledging to energy-saving actions that take what you’re already doing a few steps further.”
And it appears the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba plans to ride the coattails of the media attention on Churchill and WHB bears to increase visitors to its new polar bear exhibit. The zoo is using the first public appearance of two WHB cubs that were orphaned last year as a draw (pictured below), reported the CBC earlier this week: Winnipeggers to meet two new orphaned polar bear cubs Friday
In the polar bear media frenzy next week, see if anyone mentions the fact that the polar bear population in Western Hudson Bay is no longer considered to be declining.
Related posts:
Western Hudson Bay polar bears are not like the others – Part 2 October 5, 2012
The Politics of Polar Bears lengthy excerpt airs across Canada – cue the outrage September 3, 2014
Stirling and Derocher’s sea ice trick – omitting facts to make polar bears appear endangered March 6, 2013
Critical evidence on polar bears in W. Hudson Bay is unpublished September 27, 2012
W Hudson Bay mark-recapture studies of polar bears were invalid, says peer-reviewed study July 15, 2014
Another unsupported claim of starving polar bears in Western Hudson Bay December 29 2013
Zoos use myth of disappearing polar bears to breed them in captivity December 16, 2013
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