Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Time to Move the Bears?

Not quite yet—but species may be moved as warming ruins habitats

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 25, 2007 5:27 PM CST

(Newser) – Airlifting polar bears to the Antarctic? Luring man-eating tigers out from a forest in Bangladesh? Such ideas are in the air, as biologists debate whether to move embattled species to areas less warmed by CO2. But critics say that "cowboy environmentalists" are flouting the rules—and endangering cooler habitats—by talking species relocation. 

“We need to have the conversation now, because it will probably take a decade to reach some consensus," one biologist told Der Spiegel. "It's going to be a train wreck if we wait for species to start going extinct." And there isn't much time: A Nature study has warned that two in three species will have to relocate by 2050 to survive.

Royal Bengal tigress Krishna sits with her cubs at the Alipore Zoological Garden in Calcutta, India, in this May 17, 2005 file photo. China is seeking Indian support for plans to farm tigers for their body parts, Indian officials said Thursday, May 17, 2007, expressing opposition to a move that...
Royal Bengal tigress Krishna sits with her cubs at the Alipore Zoological Garden in Calcutta, India, in this May 17, 2005 file photo. China is seeking Indian support for plans to farm tigers for their...   (Associated Press)
A polar bear makes his way through the snow in Wapusk National Park on the shore of Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press)
A polar bear makes his way through the snow in Wapusk National Park on the shore of Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press)   (Associated Press)
A Bengal tiger named Pumba is seen in the zoo in Managua, Saturday, July 14, 2007. Bengal Tigers are one of many species endangered by climate change. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
A Bengal tiger named Pumba is seen in the zoo in Managua, Saturday, July 14, 2007. Bengal Tigers are one of many species endangered by climate change. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

A Third of America's Bird Species in Trouble

Zulus Urged to Switch to Fake Fur

Aussies Warm to Snarling, Vanishing Tasmanian Devil

Polar Bears Won't Get 'Endangered' Label

Gray Wolf to Be Protected Again


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne