Global warming sees polar bears stranded on melting ice
By BILL MOULAND -
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Last updated
at 22:00pm on 1st February 2007
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They cling precariously to the top of what is left of the ice floe,
their fragile grip the perfect symbol of the tragedy of global
warming.
Captured on film by Canadian environmentalists, the pair of
polar bears look stranded on chunks of broken ice.
Although the magnificent creatures are well adapted to the
water, and can swim scores of miles to solid land, the distance is
getting ever greater as the Arctic ice diminishes.
"Swimming 100 miles is not a big deal for a polar bear,
especially a fat one," said Dr Ian Stirling of the Canadian
Wildlife Service.
"They just kind of float along and kick. But as the ice gets
farther out from shore because of warming, it’s a longer swim that
costs more energy and makes them more vulnerable."
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GALLERY: See more dramatic pictures of the Polar Bears
here