Grizzly/Polar hybrid: ice melt could see rise of 'Grolar' bear
- added May 7, 2008
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- JanforGore
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"Scientists have suggested that due to the adverse effects of Arctic ice melting, the hybrid of a polar bear and grizzly bear - dubbed the 'grolar bear', might rise in numbers.
According to a report in The Sun , the effects of climate change means that the hybrid bears could become more common as their habitats increasingly overlap due to global warming.
"One of the real things that is happening is that grizzlies are moving north, at the same time the polar bears are forced to be on the beach and we have found a number of grizzly bear polar bear hybrids," said biologist Dr George Divoky, who has worked in the Arctic region for over three decades.
"Essentially that could mean that it would save the polar bear genes in the grizzly population," he added.
Biologists have already spotted the hybrid species.
In April 2006, a white bear with brown patches was shot in northern Canada and DNA tests confirmed it was a 'grolar' bear. It was said to have been fathered by a male grizzly and a female polar bear.
In spite of the emergence of the hybrid bears, scientists fear that the overall impact of Arctic ice melting could have a disastrous effect in the long run.
"Having seen things, I would never be surprised if in 2008 the summer ice disappears," Dr Divoky said. "This has never happened in the period of human observation. We will know it when it happens and we will have to deal with that," he added.
According to a report in The Sun , the effects of climate change means that the hybrid bears could become more common as their habitats increasingly overlap due to global warming.
"One of the real things that is happening is that grizzlies are moving north, at the same time the polar bears are forced to be on the beach and we have found a number of grizzly bear polar bear hybrids," said biologist Dr George Divoky, who has worked in the Arctic region for over three decades.
"Essentially that could mean that it would save the polar bear genes in the grizzly population," he added.
Biologists have already spotted the hybrid species.
In April 2006, a white bear with brown patches was shot in northern Canada and DNA tests confirmed it was a 'grolar' bear. It was said to have been fathered by a male grizzly and a female polar bear.
In spite of the emergence of the hybrid bears, scientists fear that the overall impact of Arctic ice melting could have a disastrous effect in the long run.
"Having seen things, I would never be surprised if in 2008 the summer ice disappears," Dr Divoky said. "This has never happened in the period of human observation. We will know it when it happens and we will have to deal with that," he added.
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- JanforGore
- 3 months ago
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