Polar Bears, Politics, and Petroleum
Posted at 9:14 pm October 26, 2009 by Megan Owen
Kalluk takes the plunge.
On October 22, 2009, things changed. The federal government issued a statement proposing the designation of over 500,000 square kilometers (193,000 square miles) of coastal land on Alaska’s North Slope as “critical habitat” for the polar bear. This coastal habitat is essential to the polar bear, as it is where the majority of maternity dens are found in Alaska. Its designation as critical habitat would dramatically limit any and all human activity within its boundaries.
By most accounts, this area in the high Arctic is far away, very cold, and as remote as you can imagine. As inhospitable as this region may sound, it happens to be where some of the biggest reserves of petroleum in the world are found. Petroleum extraction activities have been ongoing in this region for decades. However, the impact of this industry on polar bears is not clear, and as more activity has been proposed on the coast and offshore, it has become obvious that we need to find out more about how these activities affect denning bears. Clearly there is a lot at stake for industry if this proposed rule is established.
I frequently tell my children that one of the best things about our government is that it invites people to find out what’s going on and offers many outlets for us to let our voices be heard and be part of the legislative process. Regardless of what your opinion is, you can go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Web site, Marine Mammals Management page and download the proposed rule and all of the great maps and resources available to all. The information provided on the Web site is the same set of resources available to the legislators that will be voting on this designation. There is even an invitation to the public to send in their opinion on the designation. So, go ahead! Get informed! Get involved!
Megan Owen is a conservation program specialist at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous post, Polar Bears: What Little We Know.
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October 27th, 2009 at 6:02 am
They are so beautiful! We must keep them around!!! Granted I can’t see myself ever wanting to hug one… I like life a little to much for that… but… I could blow kisses! Thank you for your update and the efforts of the SDZ staff!!! As I have said before you all rock!
October 27th, 2009 at 9:02 am
#1- people hugging polar bears are known as happy meals with legs…but telepathic hugs should work out just fine. i send them all the time
October 27th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Lets hope this proposal goes through ! The world needs our polar bears !!! Thanx for your update Megan.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Oh my that is one brown polar bear on cam now
October 27th, 2009 at 11:48 am
I was just checking the polar bear cam and all I saw was scenery, rocks and other items and OMG all of a sudden ahead popped up and boy was that a dirty bear. He blended right in with the exhibit and just as fast the head tuck back under and all you could see was scenery.. Who was that dirty bear
October 27th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Thank you for that information, Megan – something that we don’t seem to hear about in the UK. Most things here seem to be kept quiet until it’s too late for us, the people, to have a say. Very sad. I notice you mention that the very land that has been designated for the polar bears is also being drilled for petroleum. If it is a critical habitat for the bears which would ‘limit any and all human activity within its boundaries’, how come it looks as if the bears would still have to share their space with people?
Someone’s been digging. Their middle part is nice and clean, but their legs and head are filthy. A nice bath, with some perfumed bath oil and a blow dry afterwards sounds like a good idea!
Tina #1, I would love to hug one. Although sometimes I think I’m too ‘brave’ for my own good!
October 27th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Oooh, just catching a glimps of the new interaction area at the plunge. Very cool. Cant tell you how much I cant wait to experience this. Birthday’s coming up, going to have to make the S.O. take a day trip out there with me for the B-day.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
#4 – Marlene – If I’m correct, that should be Chinook as the dirty brown bear. Her profile says she loves rolling in her dirt. =)
October 27th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Hi, Megan! Great article! I am also glad that the polar bears were put on the endangered animals list, and I hope that the new proposal that was set up this month will be a much better help in getting polar bear conservation awareness much more out there now. I wrote down the info, and I will get on the website to check it out and read the info on there.
Was just on the polar bear cam, and no polar bear! Oh well, will check it again later on! BTW, where are they getting the dirt from that’s showing up on their nice lovely white fur?? Any answsers? Inquiring minds want to know!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Moderator’s note: There’s plenty of dirt in their exhibit.
October 27th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
What a master diver and fantastic photo of Kalluk diving!
It appears that there is a new view of a mulch/mud pile and rock formation. Is this a new camera view of the new area for Chinook? Since there is a bear very happily sleeping in the pile, and they are very dirty, I presume it is Chinook, or perhaps Kalluk since he seems to like to be dirty lately. Is Chinook still spending most of her time inside with her keepers (Joanne in particular)? If so, I need to get more expert at distinguishing Kalluk and Tatqiq other than one is large and dirty and the other is white and more petite.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Megan, thanks for this update. It is a very monumental proposal, at a critical time. After seeing the proposed area graphics, I personally wish for a larger designation of critical habitat area, about 100,000 sq. miles more. (It’s a big state.) I also personally wish for big oil to have to pack up and leave the tundra. They could start drilling at the State Capitol, but I guess that is a little too political to voice.
I hope all the polar bear lovers out there will let their voices be heard. This proposed action is about 10 years late, but I suppose there’s always the “never too late” to try. This can be done. It will take lots and lots of people with a passion for preservation. If you post this, “Thanks.”
P. S. If you go to the links, there is some great pictures of Polar Bears and cubs, and a lot of general information.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
being one of the fairly older people that totally appreciate the ability you’re provided to watch three of the most lovely bears mother nature has provided (speaking of three bears, watching the ultra sound at least two of those people assisting Chinook could pass for goldie locks) anyway back to my point, Hugging a Polar, I’d love to swim with one, hugging would rock too! Even knowing survival of such would be impossible…..WHAT A WAY TO GO!!!
October 27th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Thanks for the info. I hate to hear when some idiot has hunted one of these beautiful animals just really is very sad. Also a question…why does Sea World feed their polar bears fish and such stuff and the zoo feeds their polar bears vegatables and such?
Moderator’s note: Our bears get fish and meat, too (check the ultrasound video to see these tasty treats offered to Chinook). The veggies are snack foods.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:01 am
How totally awesome to see the ultrasound video. This is the first I’ve noticed it being posted on the website. Only through a moderator sharing this info with a response ? None the less, the video was great, and the keepers are a lucky bunch. I’ve been waiting for the video, glad I happen to read the moderator responses. I hope we get more ultrasound videos posted, with Chinook.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:24 am
The struggle of the polar bear against the combination of global warming and the oil industry… it defies imagination. I’m glad I’m not a polar bear, because their existence in oil-producing areas of the Arctic is reduced to the equivalent of flies and mosquitos. As a Canadian, I’m very worried about these bears, because such a vast amount of their habitat lies in Canadian territory. Thank you, San Diego Zoo, for doing all you can to save the polar bear. I remember when the question was baby seals… forgive me, gentle readers, if I sound too harsh when I say the issue was the bludgeoning of baby seals to kill them for their skins. Graphic images spring to mind, along with images of polar bears actually drowning because the ice beneath their feet is melting… and I’m not a member of any save-the-seals-and-bears group: I’m just one lone Canadian worried about man’s inhumanity to other species. The answer probably won’t come in my lifetime (approximately 20-25 years) or maybe it will… with the help of dedicated animal lovers and wildlife specialists.
October 28th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Hello Kay: Just to say that others of us are out there in Canada. I won’t see the results of my efforts either, but I maintain hope that something I say or do will change one of the young people I talk to about it. I also wonder if saving the bears isn’t an precursor to saving ourselves. They’re large mammals, as are we. Admittedly we’re better at adapting, but there are limits. If Global Warming continues as predicted, at what point will the planet become too warm for humans?
October 28th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Beautiful closeup of one of the bears sleeping in the mulch beds (or dirt beds?) with their face tucked in their paws, all cuddled up. Unfortunately I have no idea which bear this is, as they have all taken to getting dirty like Chinook!
October 28th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
I’m pretty sure that’s Tatqiq.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:58 am
WOW — that is the dirtiest bear I have ever seen! What the heck? Must be some new, especially smelly, extra dirty mulch. They must be missing Chinook — and figure if they can’t be with her — might as well try and look like her. Hey, maybe that’s it — it’s their Halloween costume — and they are dressing up as Chinook. Cleaver! Wonder if they will be getting any special treats on Saturday — maybe a couple of pumpkins!! Please!!
October 29th, 2009 at 11:20 am
I was just on the polar bear cam myself a couple of minutes ago, and saw this nice big polar bear laying down on that stump looking very dirty! Don’t which bear this is, but where are all of the bears getting the dirt from? I haven’t gotten an answer to that question yet, and I’m curious! I wonder when they will be getting baths to get that dirt off of them? Getting back on the cam!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Moderator’s note: There are two mulch pits that also have dirt in them.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I was also wondering if they would be getting any special toys or treats for Halloween. I remember seeing a photo with Kalluk holding a plastic pumpkin on his belly, while swimming. He seemed very happy and looked like he had just finished trick or treating around the zoo and was taking and after snack swim with his beloved Jack O Lantern! How about bright orange balls? A gift that keeps on giving, even after the holiday!
Keepers respond: Last year’s plastic pumpkins were courtesy of a thoughtful donor and were much loved the bears. This year, the bears have been receiving real pumpkins.