By Susan Crockford, PhD
The official population estimates generated by the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group (PBSG) give the impression that the global total of polar bears has not changed appreciably since 2001:
2001 PBSG report 21,500-25,000
2005 PBSG report 20,000-25,000
2009 PBSG report 20,000-25,000
2013 PBSG website 20,000-25,000
However, some accounting changes were done between 2001 and 2009 (the latest report available) that mean a net increase in numbers had to have taken place (see summary map below and previous post here. Note this is a different issue than the misleading PBSG website graphic discussed here).
And while it is true that population “estimates” are just that — rather broad estimates rather than precise counts — it is also true that nowhere do the PBSG explain how these dropped figures and other adjustments were accounted for in the estimated totals.
The simple details of these changes are laid out below, in as few words as I could manage, to help you understand how this was done and the magnitude of the effect. It’s a short read — see what you think.
A case could very easily be made that there are not more bears, just more of them in certain areas that are accessible to those who study and track them, due to their ice bound habitat shrinking. But nooooo- I’m sure it’s a population boom even though their habitat is shrinking fairly rapidly. Yeah- it’s magic!
Well then the aliens will come with their ark ship and save them all again. Just like they did during the mediaeval warm period, and the Roman warm period. I mean how on Earth did they survive those other warmings in the past? It must have been aliens? No?
THIS IS NOT TRUE!IT IS THE FUEL FROM CARS.