Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/polar-bear-day/
Sunday, February 27, is International Polar Bear Day, but we may not get to celebrate these majestic bears for much longer.
Polar bears may weigh over 1,000 pounds and stand 10 feet tall, but they’re no match for climate change, which is edging these ice-dwelling bears out of their natural habitat and hunting/breeding ground.
Polar bears have already become the “poster child of climate change,” said one University of Toronto professor, Dr. Peter Molnar, of the grave danger presented by disappearing polar ice caps, which could be completely melted by 2030. “Polar bears are already sitting at the top of the world; if the ice goes, they have no place to go,” Dr. Molnar told the BBC.
But despite the bleak outlook, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has complicated matters by misclassifying polar bears as a “vulnerable” species.
This diminishes the grave danger climate change poses to polar bears, who are clearly endangered and–unless we do something to help them–may go extinct within decades. We need your help saving polar bears from extinction before it’s too late!
Read on for 3 ways you can help polar bears on Sunday, February 27, aka International Polar Bear Day.
1. Support Project Peril
Greater Good Charities is racing to save polar bears from extinction through Project Peril, a program that helps polar bears by protecting the Arctic ice they call home. Please make a donation to help support this critical project.
2. Sign a Petition
The first step to solving a problem is recognizing there’s a problem. Sign this petition to demand that the IUCN immediately classify polar bears as “Endangered” on the IUCN red list.
3. Take Steps To Curb Climate Change
Climate change is overwhelming and scary, but even small lifestyle changes can make a big difference for the planet, polar bears, and all the animals who call it home. Read on for 10 ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
How are you celebrating International Polar Bear Day?
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog