News Item: Polar bears thriving as the Arctic warms up
A survey of the animals' numbers in Canada's eastern Arctic has revealed that they are thriving, not declining, because of mankind's interference in the environment.
In the Davis Strait area, a 140,000-square kilometre region, the polar bear population has grown from 850 in the mid-1980s to 2,100 today.
"There aren't just a few more bears. There are a hell of a lot more bears," said Mitch Taylor, a polar bear biologist who has spent 20 years studying the animals.
His findings back the claims of Inuit hunters who have long claimed that they were seeing more bears.
NEXT ON "TODAY": POLAR BEAR DENIES EVIDENCE THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS "GOOD FOR BEARS"
Matt Lauer: Welcome back. Is it true a warmer climate is good for polar bears, as a new study claims? Or should polar bears be put on the list of endangered species, as some activists insist? Here in our studio to discuss this is a polar bear from the Eastern Arctic. Good morning, bear.
Bear: Good morning, Matt.
ML: Are you okay in that chair?
Bear: It's a little tight. Would've preferred the sofa. [laughter]
ML: Well let's get right to it. Some scientists and Inuit groups are claiming that the bear population is getting out of hand in the Arctic. This flies in the face of what we've been hearing about global warming--that increased temperatures melt ice floes and reduce your habitat. What do you say?
Bear: We're absolutely in danger, Matt. It's critical that polar bears are put on the endangered list RIGHT AWAY. That so-called scientific evidence is just phony numbers cooked up by the hunting lobby. They want to remove restrictions on hunting me and my family and bear families like mine. So they're saying global warming is helping us but we're really, really in danger.
ML: So you deny the bear population is increasing?
Bear: I'm not saying we're not managing to stay alive and reproduce ourselves. But it's a day to day struggle.
ML: The harp seal population has increased ever since hunting restrictions were imposed. The study says that has helped increase the bear population as harp seals are a primary food source for your species.
Bear: Exactly. That's why we have to keep the hunting restrictions on bears if you want any of us to be around 20, 30 years from now when the Eastern Arctic resembles Fort Lauderdale.
ML: Thank you, Bear. We're out of time. Up next: Getting a healthy breakfast into your kids...
Bear: Uh Matt? About that fish tank in the green room. Were those... snacks?
FOX NEWS EXCLUSIVE: GLOBAL WARMING THREAT TO POLAR BEARS EXPOSED AS PHONY
Bill O'Reilly: We've got a polar bear joining us live right now from the Arctic. This new scientific evidence, Mr. Bear. Something of an "inconvenient truth" for you isn't it, sir?
Bear: Actually, Bill, about that evidence...
BOR: I say you bears have joined up with the same liberal sissies who were whining about digging for oil in ANWAR. Aren't you kind of ashamed, as a big fierce animal, to be associated with these people? Oh I forgot. You're Canadian.
Bear: ...the evidence doesn't actually refute that we could be endangered...
BOR: Endangered?! Ha! I'll tell you what's endangered, sir. It's courageous people who tell the truth about global warming. That it's a sham. That it's a lie. And to the degree the earth might be getting warmer--and that's a big might, sir--it's a good thing, especially for you rapacious, breeding, maurauding, vicious polar bears.
Bear: I take offense, Bill, at your characterization of bears.
BOR: Fine. That's your right as a, a, a, what should we call you--
Bear: We prefer "members of the ursine community."
BOR: Let's bring in the Harp Seal. Mr. Harp Seal, isn't it true that the polar bear population is out of control up there? And because of it, decent, sea-abiding creatures like you live in fear on a daily basis?
Harp Seal: Yes, Bill. That's right.
BOR: And I understand, sir, that you point the finger--excuse me, flipper--directly at global warming ?
Harp Seal: That's correct.
BOR: Explain it to the folks.
Harp Seal: Well, when the reign of terror of seal hunters ended--thanks to the outspokenness of people like you, Bill--
BOR: No need to thank me. I hate bullies.
Harp Seal: Yes, well that's when the reign of terror by bears began. You see, as it's gotten warm up here, the bears are coming further and further into the water. It used to be they'd stick to the frozen coastline but now they're using the loose ice floes as fishing boats, if you will, and coming after us into the sea. No harp seal is safe anywhere, anymore. Especially the babies.
BOR: That's disgusting. That's sick.
Bear: If I may interject here--
BOR: Let the seal finish. You "Ursine-Americans" will have your say in a moment.
Bear: "Canadians," Bill. Ursine-Canadians...
POLAR BEAR EXPOSE: Entertainment Tonight Takes You Behind the Scenes of the Oscar-Winning "An Inconvenient Truth." We'll show you why it's really inconvenient for Al Gore, and the truth he didn't show you...
ET: Tell us about your role in an "Inconvenient Truth."
[POLAR BEAR ACTOR WHO SAYS HE WAS PAID TO "LOOK DEAD" BY GORE CREW]
Bear: It was a beautiful sunny day. Really warm--just the way we polar bears like it. I was lying on an ice floe, catching some rays, thinking of maybe nipping out to get a baby seal for lunch, when this camera crew approached me in a boat.
ET: What did they say to you?
Bear: They asked me if I wanted to be in a movie. I said, what kind of movie? You know, cause I don't do nature programming. No money in that. They said it was some big deal Hollywood feature film, and offered me several dozen pounds of fresh salmon. I said sure, what the hell. I've always wanted to act. Especially since my cousin made it big in New York. Three shows a day at the zoo, and all the fish he can eat. Not bad. His place is nice too. A little small, maybe, but that's Manhattan for you.
ET: So what did they want you to do?
Bear: Well it began as a major part. Growling and everything. To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed that it was cut from the final movie. They opted for some bear animation instead. My agent had a lot to say about that I can tell you. And it had taken, like, days to shoot. They had me doing everything: jumping off the floe to rescue my "cub"--a real brat of an actor--and fighting other bears, you know, for survival and whatnot. But mostly what they wanted was a lot of shots of me sleeping on the floe, playing dead.
ET: You weren't really dead.
Bear: No. It's called acting.
ET: But what about that heart-wrenching photo for the movie's publicity--of a bear howling next to its mate...
Bear: That was me. Actually I was howling, "Dinner time!"
ET: So you're telling us that you're not really endangered by global warming?
Bear: Endangered? By global warming? [laughs] Ten years from now I'm going to be selling off this crummy patch of ice to the highest bidder. It's going to be the next South Beach, believe you me. They're even talking about opening a Club Med up here...