Can polar bears and people coexist?

CUTE  BUT  DANGEROUS!

We have an odd relationship with polar bears.

As we watch them pace inside their zoo enclosures, or marvel at their portrayal within natural history documentaries, we are drawn to their big paws, fluffy white fur and button-like black noses. We find polar bear cubs adorable.

We grant them special status, elevating polar bears to represent all that is most majestic about the frozen parts of our planet.

Yet we often forget that polar bears are killers.

It is in their nature. As the top carnivore in their icy world, and the largest land predator alive, polar bears hunt to survive, mainly stalking other large mammals such as seals, walruses and whales.

Occasionally, and tragically, we now know, they will also kill people, as evidenced by the death of a young British tourist in Norway and the mauling of four others.

Incidents like this, however, could become more common.

The reason is climate change. As rising temperatures melt the sea ice, the number of polar bears may rapidly dwindle. That could mean that there are far fewer bears surviving for people to come into conflict with. But if polar bear numbers fall, we may revere them even more, with more tourists and adventurers flocking to catch a final glimpse of these animals.

If the sea ice retreats, it will also mean that more polar bears will be forced to hunt further inland. And that means more polar bears roaming around parts of the Arctic and sub-Arctic that people call home.

A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E !!!