May 15, 2008 6:01 pm US/Central
Protecting Polar Bears, Now A Threatened Species
Bears A Favorite At Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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The polar bears are a favorite at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo.
CBS
Polar bears have just been declared a threatened species in the United States and global warming may be to blame.
As CBS 2's Susan Carlson reports, conservationists in Chicago say if nothing changes, polar bears may become extinct in our lifetime.
They weigh up to 1,300 pounds and can stay under water for two minutes, and polar bears always create a big splash during field trips at Lincoln Park Zoo.
"They love the polar bears," said first grade teacher Kate Kooi. "One of the highlights of our trip today was going downstairs and watching them swim underwater."
But Kooi had to educate her students that the magnificent creatures are now considered a threatened species.
"Threatened is the first step on the way to saying, 'oh my gosh, they are going to go extinct very soon,'" said Dr. Steve Thompson, senior vice president of conservation at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The polar bear population has been dwindling. There are now fewer than 25,000 worldwide. The reason is the dramatic loss of arctic sea ice. If the polar caps continue to melt as expected, two-thirds of all polar bears will be gone within 40 years.
"The decline in sea ice makes it harder for them to hunt, harder for them to find food and as a result, they're not in as good condition," Thompson said.
The long-term impact on the ecosystem is unclear.
"Those are the type of things that when we take a species out of the system or reduce its impact on the system that we really don't have a good idea," Thompson said.
"It's sad that in our lifetime we have to experience this," said zoo patron Kevin Jasin.
Many people have been asking what they can do to help. The United States already bans hunting bears for sport, but conservationists believe less driving and cutting back on electricity could potentially reduce global warming and help protect polar bears.
Friday is Endangered Species Day. To mark the occasion, the Lincoln Park Zoo is planning many activities to call attention to the plight of polar bears and other threatened species.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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