It has been reported that we the polar bear could be mostly extinct by the year 2050. That means that 2/3 of the entire polar bear population, roughly 1600 bears, could be dead if sea ice melting predictions are accurate.

However, it could be the case that the sea ice is even melting faster than computer models are predicting. It is thought that a few may survive on Canadian Arctic islands off the west coast of Greenland by 2100, but this is very bleak!

These reports are being used to determine if the polar bear should be listed as threatened…Right now it is listed as vulnerable. I think they have their answer staring them in the face right now! They will decide it’s conservation status by January of 2008.

The reason the polar ice is so important to these bears is because they use the ice to hunt their staple food, seal. They also eat young walrus and whales.

It is estimated that polar bears appeared 40,000-50,000 yrs ago, and have never lived through a climatic period as warm as what is to come.

To read more on this story: Most polar bears could be lost by 2050

The Polar Bear is the world’s largest land carnivore, and the world’s largest bear. They are semi-aquatic and are at home in the water, on land and ice.

Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ursus
Species: U. maritimus

Their hair is actually hollow, and clear/translucent, but in abundance appears to be white or cream colored. This is for camouflage and to allow light to hit it’s skin and warm the animal. It’s skin is actually black, and this absorbs light the best. This fur, along with blubber, keep the animal warm.

A sad reality that we all have to ponder and act upon!

What Can You Do?
1. Do your part to reduce greenhouse gases…NOW! This means reducing aerosol can use, and carpooling or using public transit more often.

2. Decrease your own personal waste, as these bears have been affected by pollution in the water and air as well.

3. Donate locally or to worldwide conservation organizations.

4. Canadians: Remember the Polar Bear’s plight every time you look at our $2 coin! The two-ney has a polar bear on one side of the coin.

5. Spread the word about the Polar Bear’s plight.

These animals really don’t have that much time left…

I hope you enjoy today’s installment of Exotic Animal Lover. Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Get your beautiful Polar Bears Calendar for 2008 before all the great ones are gone! Get it here:

Polar Bears 2008 Wall CalendarA polar bear’s fur is not actually white. Each strand of hair has a hollow core that reflects visible light. Polar bears are accomplished swimmers. Some males grow to weigh well over 1000 pounds. These powerful animals are highly protective of their young and blend beautifully into their Arctic habitat. You don’t have to travel far or freeze your rump to see these delightful bears. Stay warm. Observe them instead in the pages of this wall calendar. Size Closed: 12″ x 12″ Size Opened: 12″ x 24″

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Polar Bears Mostly Extinct by 2050 is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover

I found this wonderful article to expose the penguin life for you! Enjoy!

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Penguins – An Overview
By P Anderson

The popularity of penguins is at an all-time high. It is in large part due to the hit movie The March of the Penguins, that such interest in penguins has been raised recently. Until this movie was released in theatres, most humans never knew that penguins could be such a strong and determined animal. This brief article is to give you a short overview of penguin facts.

The March of the Penguins

The biggest kinds of penguins are the Emperor Penguins, which can get really big as an adult, and reach an average of 48 inches when full-grown. The smallest penguin is known as the Rockhopper penguin, which only reaches twelve inches in height on average.

Penguins do their hunting and feeding in the water. There isn’t much food to be found on the frozen Antarctic ice, so they have to go underwater to find food. A standard penguin diet is made up of fish, squid or krill. A penguin is a great swimmer and can dive very deep underwater, holding its breath for several minutes underwater.

As The March of the Penguins movie revealed to us, Emperor penguins have a very unique and interesting breeding cycle. Penguins breed only once each year, and then only in specially chosen areas known as rookeries, which serve as breeding grounds for the penguins. Much like some other creatures, a penguin returns to the same rookery each year to breed. Penguins will sometimes travel 60 or 70 miles or more just to reach the rookery.

Once the penguins get to the breeding grounds (the rookeries), the male and female penguins will start flirting with each other and finally find their perfect match for a mate. The female penguin only lays one egg. After laying the egg, the female penguin carefully gives the egg to the male, who then holds it on top of his feet so it won’t touch the ice. The male penguin hangs his big stomach over the egg to cover it and keep it warm from the high winds and freezing cold climate.

The male penguin will do this for nine consecutive weeks and will not eat food the entire time. During this nine weeks, the male will lose almost half of his body weight, and the mother penguin takes the opportunity to go out to sea and find food for herself, so she can to replenish her own resources, which were drained during her pregnancy and while laying the egg. The female will later return to the male penguin, usually just about the same time as the egg is due to hatch, and will trade places with the male penguin. He will then go back out to sea for himself and hunt for food to regain his strength.

There is much more to know about penguins though! Check out the website www.penguinsmarch.com for more fun penguin facts and information about baby penguins.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=P_Anderson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Penguins—An-Overview&id=647621

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My favorite penguin is the Fairy Penguin found in Australia…I have some photos of them, up close and personal, I just can’t seem to find them. I will post them for you when I do…LOL They are an ultramarine blue color and their coat has an opalescent shine to it. They are tiny little creatures, and are very beautiful. They just struck me! Until then, check them out in this photo:

I truly enjoyed this installment of Exotic Animal Lover, and learned a lot about the penguin. Until next time…

Live Exotically,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. If you haven’t had the eyeopening experience of watching “March of the Penguins“, please do. You’ll be glad you did! Check it out:

March of the Penguins (Widescreen Edition)

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Penguin Papparazzi is a post from: Exotic Animal Lover