When most of us ponder the devastation to wildlife from global warming and
polar ice cap melting, the polar bear comes to mind right away. That’s
understandable because the polar bear is such an iconic species. Moreover,
there’s no doubt that polar bears are threatened because it is a commonly known
fact that the planet is losing billions of acres of permanent ice pack every
year.
However, the impacts from habitat loss to species in the Arctic threaten many
species and the walrus is running a close second to the polar bear. You see,
whereas polar bears travel in small family groups, walruses gather in large
numbers. So, when their habitat melts, they literally pile on one another in a
very primitive manner. So, as the loss of habitat worsens, smaller, younger
walruses which can’t evade larger animals vying for their space can quite
literally be crushed.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, the situation is so dire that
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering adding the walrus to the
Endangered Species List due to habitat loss from global warming. How horrible!
Now, as the October 24 Day of Climate Action marks the final countdown to COP15 in
Copenhagen in December, it is vital that we spread the word as far and wide as
we can. Global warming truly is a global threat and unless we take definitive,
immediate action, we will lose more and more species, including the unlikely
victim of polar ice cap melting, the walrus.
Fomenting the Triple Bottom Line
Corbett Kroehler
When most of us ponder the devastation to wildlife from global warming and polar ice cap melting, the polar bear comes to mind right away. That’s understandable because the polar bear is such an iconic species. Moreover, there’s no doubt that polar bears are threatened because it is a commonly known fact that the planet is losing billions of acres of permanent ice pack every year.
However, the impacts from habitat loss to species in the Arctic threaten many species and the walrus is running a close second to the polar bear. You see, whereas polar bears travel in small family groups, walruses gather in large numbers. So, when their habitat melts, they literally pile on one another in a very primitive manner. So, as the loss of habitat worsens, smaller, younger walruses which can’t evade larger animals vying for their space can quite literally be crushed.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, the situation is so dire that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering adding the walrus to the Endangered Species List due to habitat loss from global warming. How horrible!
Now, as the October 24 Day of Climate Action marks the final countdown to COP15 in Copenhagen in December, it is vital that we spread the word as far and wide as we can. Global warming truly is a global threat and unless we take definitive, immediate action, we will lose more and more species, including the unlikely victim of polar ice cap melting, the walrus.
Fomenting the Triple Bottom Line
Corbett Kroehler