GLOBAL WARMING’S

ROBBED by humans of the ice they need for their survival, these hungry and exhausted polar bears are in grave danger of starvation.

The destructive threat of global warming is so serious the entire species could be wiped out by the end of this century.

A leading expert has told the Mirror that unless significant action is taken “all the bears will soon be gone”.

Our images show the desolate kings of the Arctic precariously stranded on the western shore of Hudson Bay in Canada as climate change continues to wreak havoc.

These bears should have left the town of Churchill three weeks ago to head out on shimmering ice for seal-rich seas.

After months of relying on their fat reserves and struggling to forage on land, they face starvation having not been able to feed on their prey.

Global warming has reduced the ice coverage on the bay. Not only do they have less ice on which to hunt, but they have less time for hunting – all because of our reckless abuse of the planet.

Last week we saw bears repeatedly fall through what by then should have been solid ice as they tried to reach areas that provide them with food.

It is only in the past few days that the endangered animals have been able to make their way out to open waters as the ice finally became strong enough to hold their weight.

It is a myth the bears chase prey through the sea. In fact the predators kill ringed seals by grabbing them as they surface or rest near the sea ice’s edge. A 31st bear needs almost 5lb of blubber per day.

It is why their dependence on the ice for travelling, hunting, mating, resting, and often their maternal dens, makes them highly vulnerable to the changing climate.

Expert Dr Steve Amstrup has now issued a dire warning, saying:

“This is not something we

FEARS

Dr Steve

Amstrup