Arctic wildlife
Many species have adapted successfully to the arctic environment. The seas, sea ice and tundra provide a rich habitat for arctic species like the polar bear, arctic fox, reindeer and walrus as well as many varieties of seals, whales, birds and fish.
But as sea ice declines and pressures from industrial development increase in the Arctic, will arctic animals be able to adapt quickly enough?
Narwhal
The narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is famous for the long ivory tusk which spirals counter-clockwise several feet forward from its head.
Walrus
One of the largest seals in the world, the walrus is easily recognised by its sheer size and magnificent tusks.
Beluga
Belugas are extremely sociable mammals that live, hunt and migrate together in pods, ranging from a few individuals to hundreds of whales.Threats to Arctic wildlife
Climate change
Increased warm spells during the winter thaw the snow cover. When it refreezes, the vegetation some arctic animals depend upon is covered in ice.- Caribou herds in northern Canada, made up of hundreds of thousands of individuals, have been significantly reduced in recent years. Experts suspect that climate change is a significant contributing factor.
Loss of sea ice
An entire ecosystem - from phytoplankton to polar bears - depends on the arctic sea ice to survive. As temperatures increase and sea ice continues to decline, species such as the ringed seal, walrus and polar bear will need to adapt.- By 2040, the summer sea ice could be reduced to a small fringe on the northern coasts of Canada and Greenland -- the Last Ice Area.
Oil and gas development
As global oil reserves decline and geopolitical issues make oil harder to access, the Arctic will come under increasing pressure as a source of oil.- Northern Alaska has the largest oil fields in America. The federal and state governments have worked to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling in recent years.
- In northern Canada, a proposed gas pipeline running down the Mackenzie Valley may threaten ecologically important areas unless they are protected first.
