What can be done to stop polar bears from becoming extinct because of global warming?

Answer 1

Right now, probably nothing other than reduce global warming.

As far as global warming is concerned, Polar Bears are most endangered by the reduction of "land" (in this case float ice) where they can haul out. If warming continues, there is no way to effectively reduce float ice melting on a large scale.

Transplantation of this species is hazardous as well. Polar bears are top-of-the-line primary predators. In order to effectively transplant high-end species of this type, a deep and thorough understanding of ecological effects of such a transplantation would be required. With primary predators, this type of study is wildly complex, and likely beyond our ability in that it requires us to predict future impacts on indigenous species -- something with which we have a dubious history (consider the dramatic and arguably disastrous results of our decision to transplant the Mongoose to Hawaii). Transplantation -- if it were logistically feasible (which is doubtful), would without question have dramatic effects on other local predator species that would likely be unpredictableand quite possibly very harmful. It's likely this cure would be more harmful than the disease.

User:Cjonb21:43, 2 Jun 2008 (UTC)