What We Can Learn From the Viral Video of a Dying Polar Bear – And How We Can Help NOW

It’s no secret that deforestation, climate change, and habitat degradation are rapidly endangering plant and animal species around the world. As a result of Climate change, caused by many human industries (primarily animal agriculture), scientists believe we are in the midst of the sixth mass period of extinction on Earth. The rate of extinction is around 1,000 times higher than normal and on whole, we’ve lost 52 percent of the world’s wildlife in the past 40 years alone. Tragically, unlike the world’s other periods of mass species extinction, this one is on us.

It’s understandable that most people have trouble grappling with the fact that our lifestyles and everyday actions are having severe consequences on the environment and animals around us. After all, when we eat a burger we don’t see how many gallons of water were used and polluted or how many tons of greenhouse gas emissions were released into the atmosphere because of it. Further than that, we don’t see how those harmful outputs negatively affect the world’s animals who have adapted to very specific climate conditions.

But thanks to a new video and photo footage of a starving polar bear, we have even more context to how human actions have harmed the world’s species. Paul Nicklen, a nature photographer, contributor to the National Geographic, and co-founder of Sea Legacy, recently took photos and video on a recent trip that has left people worldwide stunned.

In the devastating video, an extremely emaciated polar bear is shown, barely able to move on the Baffin Islands inside of the Arctic Circle. The patchy-furred polar bear searches for food inside of a rusted metal can. “We stood there crying—filming with tears rolling down our cheeks,” Nicklen said as his team watched the heartbreaking scene.

It’s illegal to feed polar bears, so Nicklen had no other choice but to at least capture the footage for the world to see. With no food source, the polar bear likely died within a few hours.

The sad reality is the polar bear is just one species that has become the prevalent victim of Climate change. These animals rely on sea ice for their home and hunting ground. As Arctic temperatures rise, this ice breaks apart and separates, creating distances too vast for these bears to traverse for them to reach new hunting territory. It is heartbreaking to know that we could have caused the downfall of such a powerful symbol of the great, icy North, but it is something we need to come to terms with if we have any hope at saving these animals.

The video has since gone viral, with millions viewing the video and noting that the emaciated polar bear is the consequence of Climate change. While the consequences of Climate change certainly seem bleak, there are actions you can take today, starting with your dinner plate.

What You Can Do

One Green Planet has long stated that our global food system dominated by industrial animal agriculture is at the heart of our environmental crisis.

This destructive industry currently occupies over half of the world’s arable land resources, uses the majority of our freshwater stores, and drives greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, this system causes rampant air and water Pollution, land degradation, deforestation and is pushing countless species to the brink of extinction.

Knowing all that we do about the impact of meat consumption on the environment and animals, we are faced with a choice – either we can continue to be sold into this destructive industry – or we can choose better.

You can start eating for the planet by doing nothing more than choosing a delicious plant-based meal over one laden with animal products. If you look at it from a personal perspective, you can cut your own carbon footprint in half just by leaving meat off your plate for one year. (Plus save a lot of water, redirect grain for people to eat, and help protect endangered species…)

With the wealth of available plant-based options available, it has never been easier to eat with the planet in mind. If you’re ready to start doing this in your own life, check out One Green Planet’s #EatForThePlanet campaign.

For information and advice on how you can play your part in the fight to end species extinction, check out some other One Green Planet articles below.

• 3 Ways YOU Are Driving the Sixth Extinction of Species
• How to Change Your Consumption Habits to Benefit Endangered Species
• Want to Save the World? Consider These Facts When You Eat

To learn more about how our food choices are tied to species extinction, check out this recent episode of the #EatForThePlanet with Nil Zacharias podcast featuring Sea Shepherd’s Captain Paul Watson:

Image source: Paul Nicklen