Polar bears in Canada’s high Arctic are the most vulnerable to climate change, according to new genetic analysis

Bozeman, Montana – Researchers from leading institutions including Polar Bears International, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, the University of Manitoba, and MacEwan University have analyzed all of Canada’s polar bear populations and found that the most northern polar bears, those in Canada’s High Arctic, are less likely to be able to adapt to a rapidly warming Arctic. Published today in Ecology Letters, the report “Assessing the risk of climate maladaptation for Canadian polar bears” includes a map with hotspots of polar bear vulnerability and resilience across Canada, home to two-thirds of the world’s polar bears. With the Arctic warming up to four times faster than the rest of the planet, and polar bears reliant on sea ice to reach their seal prey, the authors find that many polar bears are genetically unsuited for future warming. This cutting-edge research represents a breakthrough in wildlife conservation technology, as pinpointing polar bears’ vulnerability will help guide conservation and management efforts.

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