polar bears endangered species

Once a symbol of Arctic wildlife's fierce resilience, the polar bear is now so vulnerable to the ravages of global warming that the US government placed the creature on the endangered species list yesterday.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said the bears' habitat was literally melting below their feet. Bears depend almost exclusively on sea ice to hunt for ringed seals and other prey. Yet Arctic ice coverage fell to record low levels last year, and scientists predict it could decline another 30 percent by mid-century, he said.

The government declared the bears as "threatened," the first time an animal has been placed on the endangered species list primarily because of global warming. The designation means the bear is at risk of eventually becoming extinct and requires the government to protect it.