Like tuna, it seems we are losing our polar bears too
Global population of polar bears has increased by 2,650-5,700 since 2001
The official population estimates generated by the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group (PBSG) give the impression that the global total of polar bears has not changed appreciably since 2001:
2001 PBSG report 21,500-25,000
2005 PBSG report 20,000-25,000
2009 PBSG report 20,000-25,000
2013 PBSG website 20,000-25,000
However, some accounting changes were done between 2001 and 2009 (the latest report available) that mean a
net increase in numbers had to have taken place (see summary map below and previous post
here.Note
this is a different issue than the misleading PBSG website graphic discussed
here).
And while it is true that population “estimates” are just that — rather broad estimates rather than precise counts — it is also true that
nowhere do the PBSG explain how these dropped figures and other adjustments were accounted for in the estimated totals.
The simple details of these changes are laid out below, in as few words as I could manage, to help you understand how this was done and the magnitude of the effect. It’s a short read — see what you think.
UPDATE 31 May 2015: See the latest population numbers
here.
UPDATE 5 December 2014: Links to more recent posts relevant to this issue added below. [including this one:
Status of Canadian polar bear populations has been changed – more good news October 28, 2014
UPDATE February 14, 2014 —
a new status table has been released, see new post here
UPDATE February 18, 2014
— see graphs of the 1981-2013 estimates here.
