Bearing with climate change in a human world
Cuddly, majestic, dangerous and even dopey - bears have inspired human beings since our earliest encounters. But habitat loss and climate change are forcing these furry beasts toward the brink of extinction.
Late for bed
Brown bears in Europe usually hibernate in the winter. But scientists have noted that some mothers with young cubs have been increasingly active in recent winters, as warmer temperatures have made food resources like nuts available for longer. These bears have stopped hibernating - and they could suffer as a result, if they can't find enough food to eat.
Picture-perfect panda
The two main threats to bear survival are habitat loss and climate change. The panda is considered a national treasure in China, where its primary habitat is the Yangtze Basin region. But as China's economy booms, railroads and streets are slicing up the panda's forest home, isolating populations and preventing mating.
Bald at birth
A giant panda baby only weighs only 100 to 200 grams (4 to 7 ounces) at birth. These bears generally give birth to a litter of two or three cubs. Born bald and toothless, the cubs live with their mother until the age of three. After that they roam the land on their own, eating bamboo shoots and searching for a mate.
Territorial tiffs
The North American range for grizzlies, a type of brown bear, spans from Alaska down to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Male grizzlies tend to live alone, and their low population density can make it difficult to find a mate. After locating a suitable partner, males will violently deter other suitors.
Perishing polar prowler
Polar bears hunt their prey of seals and fish from platforms of sea ice in the summer months. But climate change has reduced Arctic sea ice to record lows, and the bears have been starving. Human communities in northern regions are considering feeding programs to prevent polar bears from roaming too close to their settlements. Polar bears are the only bears that will actively hunt humans.
Awake in winter
Bears generally hibernate during the winter. Unlike their sleepy cousins, however, polar bears do not spend their winter dozing away. Although other bears can live for months without eating or waking up to urinate, polar bears remain active. To retain their energy during the cold, dark winters, polar bears are able to slow down their metabolism and reuse proteins.
Housed with humans
As human territories expand, bears and people are living closer to each other than ever before. Sharing their homes with humans has affected bears' behavior. In North America and Eastern Europe, it's not uncommon for bears to tip trash cans and kill livestock for food.
From god to performer
In Hindu mythology, the powerful and intelligent god Jambavan appears in the form of an Asian sloth bear, a subspecies of black bear. Bears are intelligent animals and can learn tricks, which makes them vulnerable to exploitation. The sloth bear pictured here was used to entertain people in a village and was later rescued by Indian officials.
A city of bears
The German capital Berlin is a city with bears on every corner. The bear appears on the city's coat of arms. One disputed belief is that the name Berlin could mean "little bear," although historians are uncertain of the name's true origin. The colorful "buddy bears" that decorate Berlin today are made of fiberglass and were designed by Austrian sculptor Roman Strobl.
Battle for bears
Bears enrich the diversity of life on Earth. As key predators, they also play an important role in ecosystems. If human beings can find sustainable solutions to urban growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, these majestic creatures will continue to roam the earth for generations to come.
And what might you be?
Visitors to the Osnabrück Zoo don't know what to think when they first see Tips and Taps. They could pass for dirty polar bears or particularly light-furred brown bears. The two, in fact, are hybrid bears and the offspring of a polar bear and brown bear. Until recently, bears of all types were commonly kept together in German zoos.