New Delhi: As glaciers melt and the sea level rises, polar bears – the large mammals that inhabit the Arctic – have nowhere to go. No land exists in this barren area; the polar bears that emerged in the last ice age have lived on floating ice. However, due to global warming, this ice has been melting at lightning speed, forcing the bears to flee to land in the summers, where humans can pose a threat to and be threatened by these massive creatures.
Keeping both species separated safely is a challenge, especially when tourists, who are now aware of the bears’ cycle, come in thousands to glimpse the majestic predators.
Tracking devices – a practical solution
To protect both, scientists have devised a solution – tracking devices to help monitor the animals’ locations by “keeping a remote eye” on them.
In the south of the Arctic Archipelago, polar bears often wander into residential areas. Conservationists catch them and transport them back to icy places away from towns or villages. It was in this place that scientists tested out their tracking tags.
The study of the tracking tags on polar bears was published in the scientific journal Animal Biotelemetry (Photo credit: Sylvain Cordier/Photodisc/Getty Images)
How do the tags work?
To catch the polar bears, they are first tranquilised. After transporting them to the place of release, they are fitted with a tag on their backs. This tag, containing a GPS, is attached to the bears’ fur. After a period, the tag falls off, but scientists hope to gain enough information about the largest living species of bears by then.
Conservation staff would be notified when a bear ventures too close to a human settlement, allowing them to reach the location and intercept the bear. Not only this, the tags would also help researchers gain considerable new information about where the bears hunt when they leave their habitat for lack of options.
In recent years, polar bears have started spending more time on land near humans. Therefore, knowing more about their movements is crucial to ensure the safety of all parties’ safety.
The study of the tracking tags on polar bears was published in the scientific journal Animal Biotelemetry.
With an increasing number of polar bears entering human-inhabited areas, tracking their movements to ensure the safety of both bears and humans becomes crucial. Discover how scientists tackle this issue with a simple yet effective solution. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
