Why should I be concerned that polar bears are going extinct?

Question

I don't understand. If I were near one, it would eat me alive. They defacate and urinate on the north pole and eat the seals, which are much cuter than they are.

Ya know isn't it interesting how no one ever explains it that way (If other species are threatened then we are threatened) Were they saying this when the dodo bird went extinct? And this is the first time after we've had it drilled into our minds about the impending doom of global warming, that I've "heard" it explained this way.

Some would think I'd be able to figure out this factor on my own. How is that is supposed to be? There have been other species that have become extinct, but that hasn't affected the survival of humans.

In the 1970's they were warning us about an ice age that was coming, so I would think those of you answering with a dissappointed tone could understand my skepticism.

There have been other species that have faded, but that hasn't affected the survival of humans.

Answer 1

Should endangered animals be saved? Every single species has a potential for extinction and millions of species have already gone extinct without any interference from humans. Humans have also been the direct cause of several extinctions including dodo birds, Tasmanian tigers, and passenger pigeons. Was it wrong? Of course it was, but could we have saved them? Probably not.

Currently polar bears are in real danger of extinction due to human actions. Thousands are starving to death every year and the numbers a declining at such a rate that humans likely will not be able to stop it. But should we make heroic efforts to save them, maybe not. Without their natural habitat, polar bears will need to be artificially supported throughout their individual lives. This means either the bears end up in zoos(much like what has happened to pandas) or we would have to track each bear and make sure that each one is getting enough to eat every day of their lives. And, someone would have to be responsible for killing seals to feed to polar bears.

Polar bears are declining because they are not able to adapt to their changing environment quickly enough. If we can stop polar melting they would have a chance but if we can't do that then it is better to let the species pass into history than it is to put them all in zoos eating horse meat for the rest of their lives.

The same is true for all endangered species. If we can't fix the main problem that is causing the extinction then it makes no sense to preserve a species by dooming that species to live in an unnatural state.

Would you keep the last passenger pigeon in a cage to preserve it from extinction or let it fly free for it last remaining days?

Answer 2

Polar bears are not dumb. They are highly efficient killing machines and many scientists say they are the only animal on earth that looks upon a human as food and stalks them for days at a time so they can kill us for dinner. Other animals may eat us if given the chance, but Polar Bears have followed workers on the northern oil fields of Alaska's north slope and made a tasty snack of them. The Polar bear is not threatened in Alaska or western Canada. They need some protection in Russia and other northern countries but mostly they are fine.

Answer 3

You really shouldn't. Animals have been going extinct since animals first inhabited this planet.

The polar caps are going to warm with or without human interference. The polar bears will go extinct but another species will take their place, it is a process called natural selection.

Answer 4

Your question is proof positive that arrogance, avarice and hubris has set in; it's a typical American 'All for one....ME' kind of greedy, selfish, ignorant, repulsive response. It makes me ashamed to be a citizen of the United States.
Look, dumb*ss, every species on this Earth is dependent on every other species. Just because you've never seen a polar bear doesn't mean a polar bear isn't an important part of our ecological balance. Tsetse flies, venus fly traps, black widow spiders, sea otters, grey whales, manatees, humming birds, rain forests, exotic Amazonian frogs, bugs, human beings, evergreen trees, mangrove forests, polar ice caps, oceans, cats, rivers, wetlands, mountains, and even remote Eskimo tribes play a significant role in our very existence. As those species become extinct, so will WE eventually. -RKO- 10/14/07

Answer 5

You're heartless. Typical speciesist "It's not my species, why should I care?"


Every creature on Earth is essential to the ecosystem. First polar bears, then one day, humans. So why should we care when humans start doing extinct, after all, we are the ones killing ourselves and out planet.

Our arctic and antarctic regions are taking a hit, this should open your eyes to the impending doom that we will face.


You think we should care more about seals because you think they are cuter? Well I think kittens are cuter than babies, does that mean I should not care about the Infant Mortality Rate because it doesn't affect kittens? No!
Besides if global warming causes polar bears to die, it causes seals to die too.

Answer 6

You think if its not happening to you, then why should you care. That is the mentality that got us into trouble with global warming in the first place. Yes you should be concerned because when something is extinct, it can change the ecosystem on a larger scale, like a ripple effect.

Answer 7

Because it's a warning sign of a global change that will cost you a whole lot of money if we don't do anything.

It's like a miner who looks at the dead body of a canary that was carried into the mine, and says "What the heck. I don't like birds anyway".

Answer 8

Because polar bears are at the top of their food chain and so are you. Not every "canary in a coal mine" is a canary.

Answer 9

But maybe if the seal population goes unchecked they will eat all of some kind of fish that you like to eat.

Answer 10

... so that makes them a less worthy species?

It's proof that global warming is happening, and that it can have serious effects.