Researchers Record 426-mile Polar Bear Swim - Female Lost 22% Of Body Weight In Nine-Day Ordeal

[hatrack]

A female polar bear swam for a record-breaking nine days straight, traversing 426 miles (687 kilometers) of water—equivalent to the distance between Washington, D.C., and Boston, a new study says.

The predator made her epic journey in the Beaufort Sea (see map), where sea ice is shrinking due to global warming, forcing mother bears to swim greater and greater distances to reach land—to the peril of their cubs.

The cub of the record-setting bear, for instance, died at some point between starting the swim and when the researchers next observed the mother on land. She also lost 22 percent of her body weight.

"We're pretty sure that these animals didn't have to do these long swims before, because 687-kilometer stretches of open water didn't occur very often in the evolutionary history of the polar bear," said study co-author Steven Amstrup, chief scientist for the conservation group Polar Bears International. Amstrup is also the former project leader of polar bear research for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which led the new study. Another female bear in the study swam for more than 12 days, but appears to have found places to rest during her journey.

EDIT

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/07/110720-polar-bears-global-warming-sea-ice-science-environment/

[aquamarina]

1. So very, very sad.

[JohnWxy]

2. we've got plenty of time to start doing something about Global Warming.

recommended.

[jberryhill]

3. Cool - What Did She Win?

When someone eats the last tuna, I hope they take a picture of it.

[hatrack]

5. Probably Pay-Per-View . . .

nt

[Remember Me]

4. Of all the tragedies and catastrophies due to global warming

for some reason the imperilment and likely extinction of the polar bear just absolutely breaks my heart. I can't bear it (no pun intended).

[Delphinus]

6. I am right there with you on that.

My heart really feels like it's breaking. :cry: