Scientists have warned that the polar bears are getting sick more often as the Arctic temperatures are rising due to global warming. The scientists looked at blood samples of polar bears living between Alaska and Russia over a period of 30 years. They found that today polar bears face a bigger risk of contracting viruses, bacteria, and parasites that they were less likely to contract just 30 years ago. The research has further said that the polar bears are also facing a risk of getting many new diseases, which they did not face before. This is because they are spending more time on land due to melting ice.
Key polar bear facts
- There are about 26,000 polar bears left in the world, with the majority in Canada.
- They are also found in the US, Russia, Greenland, and Norway. Climate change is a key factor in their decline.
- Polar bears are listed as Vulnerable on the Red List by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.