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The problem of climate change and global warming is an increasingly palpable reality and one of the regions that suffers the most from its consequences is the Arctic North Pole. The ice is already melting in this area and, as a consequence, the animals that depend on it are suffering serious damage to their living conditions.
For these species adapt to survive the new conditions or become extinct are their two alternatives. In this Green Ecologist article we see the top endangered animals of the North Pole.
The difficulties of surviving at the North Pole
The melting of the North Pole caused by increasing global warming is one of the main threats to the animals of the North Pole. The survival or not of the species depends to a great extent on their capacities to adapt to the new conditions that leave them. the thaw of the North Pole. Animals that depend on ice to thrive are harmed, both by the loss of their habitat and by the alteration of the balance that exists in the food chain.
Thus, for example, a species such as the polar bear, which depends on the frozen surface, suffers greater mortality from its offspring because they must carry out longer swimming paths and they do not have the abilities to swim in those conditions. Also, they have more difficulties feeding, since it is harder to find possible prey in these frozen regions.
Another factor that decreases with the reduction of frozen surfaces is the reproduction and resting capacity of the species. For example, walruses must seek refuge in more limited regions of the coast. In addition, many of these shelters are more likely to be attacked by predators like humans. To this must be added the great problem posed by these long journeys for animals as large as walruses.
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus), one of the North Pole's most endangered animals
As we said, The polar bears They are completely dependent on the ice at the North Pole for their lives and, furthermore, without access to the frozen surface, these animals would have very little chance of hunting their favorite prey, the seals. In some places in Manitoba, Canada, polar bears spend more time waiting on shore, because Hudson Bay (Northeast Canada) takes longer to freeze each year. This causes bears to occasionally roam cities among humans, causing them to be shot at times. Due to factors like these, since 2008 polar bears have been included in the lists of endangered species.
Learn more about this topic in this other article about The polar bear is in danger of extinction and with our video on the subject.
Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus)
Another of the endangered animals of the North Pole It is the arctic fox, also known as the white fox.
The main food of arctic foxes They are mammals and birds, but it tends to feed on the carrion left by polar bears. With which fewer polar bears mean less food available for polar foxes, which is why they must look for alternative sources to feed. In addition, the increasingly warmer temperatures are making red foxes extend their habitat or territory to arctic regions, which represent competition for arctic foxes in terms of food sources. Although it is not on the official lists of endangered species, it is part of the list of threatened species offered by the Center for Biological Diversity.
Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)
This species is in danger of extinction because arctic cod, their main source of food, has reduced their populations. The Arctic cod feeds on crustaceans, which in turn feed on algae from the ice, therefore, the thaw brings with it a decrease in these algae, and by the food chain of the rest of the species.
Another inconvenience they face beluga whales that inhabit Cook Inlet is that they must learn to avoid maritime traffic and endure the industrial pollution of the Anchorage, Alaska stream. Since 2008, belugas have been part of the list of endangered species and only between 300 and 400 are currently estimated in nature.
Learn more about endangered beluga whales in this other Green Ecologist article.
Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)
The pacific walrus is an animal that inhabits exclusively in the Arctic seas. They are large species with long ivory tusks that must emerge out of the water when giving birth, suckling their young or resting. Walruses, unlike seals, do not swim continuously and ascend ice rafts from one feeding area to another. This species looks threatened by the hunt for its ivory tusks and fat and by the exploration of gas and oil and the pollution of the oceans that damage their habitat. The threats are so great that in 2008 it was requested to be listed on the endangered species list.
If you want to know more about the species that live in this habitat, we recommend you read this other article by Green Ecologist about What animals live in the North and South Pole.
If you want to read more articles similar to Endangered animals of the North PoleWe recommend that you enter our category of Endangered Animals.
