Russian town are easily linked with food shortages in the natural habitat and
ultimately the effects of climate change.
33 While climate change is indisputable,
we must also remember that humans encroach more and more onto polar bear
territory. The availability of waste food and the associated presence of polar bears
in human settlements is therefore also a means of the polar bear adapting to
increasing human presence in its habitat.
Polar bears interbreed with brown bears, both in captivity and in the wild, referred
to as hybridity. Although it has been known to occur for some time, it wasn’t until
2006 when it was first observed in the wild when a sports hunter from the United
States shot a hybrid in Canada’s Northwest Territories, assuming it was a polar bear.
Since then, several occurrences of ‘grolar’ (a mix of ‘grizzly’ and ‘polar’) bear
sightings have been recorded. Whether or not the increasing existence of grolar bears
is an effect of global warming is difficult to ascertain. On the one hand it is possible
that due to the shrinking habitat of the polar bear, the habitats of grizzly and polar
bears increasingly start to overlap, causing interbreeding. On the other, it is also
possible that given the increasing human presence in the north, the existence of
grolar bear is simply more often reported.
Another issue is that of genetic diversity. While indeed some polar bear
populations are decreasing, the grolar bear could be a blessing and a curse. On the
one hand, hybridisation can be a means to secure the genetic composition of the
polar bear for the future. In other words, the polar bear would not genetically die out,
but could still be found in the form of grolar bears. On the other hand, this could also
be to the polar bear’s detriment since the mix of both bear species is not fully adapted
to either natural environment, ultimately speeding up the polar bear’s decline.
34
Be that as it may, since seven of the distinct polar bear populations are data
deficient, it is not possible to generate reliable population estimates. The IUCN lists
the polar bear as ‘vulnerable’ and the overall population is estimated somewhere
between 19,000–30,000 bears. Whether or not the overall trend is increasing or
declining is unknown.
35
2.4
Summary and Conclusion
The above pages have introduced some of the most prominent marine mammal
species, particularly taking into account public discourse and public perception. In
short, the marine mammals presented in this chapter have been or are in some form
relevant for humans, human perception, or human exploitation. This chapter is far
from complete and entire books have been written about the diversity and roles of
marine mammals for the ecosystem as well as for humans.
33 Specktor (2019).
34 Stirling (2008), pp. 888–890.
35 Wiig et al. (2015).
2.4 Summary and Conclusion
31
ultimately the effects of climate change.
33 While climate change is indisputable,
we must also remember that humans encroach more and more onto polar bear
territory. The availability of waste food and the associated presence of polar bears
in human settlements is therefore also a means of the polar bear adapting to
increasing human presence in its habitat.
Polar bears interbreed with brown bears, both in captivity and in the wild, referred
to as hybridity. Although it has been known to occur for some time, it wasn’t until
2006 when it was first observed in the wild when a sports hunter from the United
States shot a hybrid in Canada’s Northwest Territories, assuming it was a polar bear.
Since then, several occurrences of ‘grolar’ (a mix of ‘grizzly’ and ‘polar’) bear
sightings have been recorded. Whether or not the increasing existence of grolar bears
is an effect of global warming is difficult to ascertain. On the one hand it is possible
that due to the shrinking habitat of the polar bear, the habitats of grizzly and polar
bears increasingly start to overlap, causing interbreeding. On the other, it is also
possible that given the increasing human presence in the north, the existence of
grolar bear is simply more often reported.
Another issue is that of genetic diversity. While indeed some polar bear
populations are decreasing, the grolar bear could be a blessing and a curse. On the
one hand, hybridisation can be a means to secure the genetic composition of the
polar bear for the future. In other words, the polar bear would not genetically die out,
but could still be found in the form of grolar bears. On the other hand, this could also
be to the polar bear’s detriment since the mix of both bear species is not fully adapted
to either natural environment, ultimately speeding up the polar bear’s decline.
34
Be that as it may, since seven of the distinct polar bear populations are data
deficient, it is not possible to generate reliable population estimates. The IUCN lists
the polar bear as ‘vulnerable’ and the overall population is estimated somewhere
between 19,000–30,000 bears. Whether or not the overall trend is increasing or
declining is unknown.
35
2.4
Summary and Conclusion
The above pages have introduced some of the most prominent marine mammal
species, particularly taking into account public discourse and public perception. In
short, the marine mammals presented in this chapter have been or are in some form
relevant for humans, human perception, or human exploitation. This chapter is far
from complete and entire books have been written about the diversity and roles of
marine mammals for the ecosystem as well as for humans.
33 Specktor (2019).
34 Stirling (2008), pp. 888–890.
35 Wiig et al. (2015).
2.4 Summary and Conclusion
31