Where do polar bears live? Polar bears range throughout the circumpolar north in areas where they can hunt seals at open leads. The five "polar bear nations" in which the bears are found include the U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Denmark (Greenland), and Norway. Polar bears do not live in the southern hemisphere.

The number of polar bear populations that are declining has increased. In 2005, a group of scientists and managers from five Arctic nations unanimously concluded that two of Canada’s 13 populations were depleted and five were declining. This is in contrast to a 2001 assessment that only one to two populations were in decline.
In the Western Hudson Bay, published peer-reviewed studies show that the population declines and other changes - such as reduced weight, decreased reproductive success, and decreased size - are clearly linked to the decline in sea ice.
Since 2002, many polar bear populations in Alaska have shown increasing signs of stress, including drownings, malnutrition, and cannibalism. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that all polar bears in Alaska may be extinct as early as 2050.

"Flocke (snowflake) must not melt". She won't. But the snow and the pack ice of the Arctic will melt, unless we take the earth's climate more into account and start living and working in a more sustainable way . Little Flocke can be an ambassador for her fellow polar bears in the extreme northern regions who will not be able to survive without pack ice.

What can each of us do for the protection of polar bears and of our climate?

1. Make donations to polar bear projects run locally by scientists and conservationists.

Nature organisations and organisations protecting endangered species support research on polar bears and the introduction of reservations. What protects polar bears will also help other wildlife and plants in the Arctic.

2. When shopping, look out for certificates of compliance with climate standards.

When shopping for many consumer goods (such as vegetables, fish, coffee, clothing, timber, electric appliances and more) we now have a choice between conventionally produced goods and those which comply with specific environmental, climatic, and social standards.

3. Lead a "climate-aware" life

However, changing your shopping habits won't be enough. Our life style should also become sustainable. In our homes and on our travels, even in our eating habits and when investing money – we can look out for ecological standards. But don't worry: the modern answer to the challenge of climate change is not an ascetic life style. The key word is "compensation". If you like to drive your sports car, you can adjust your life style elsewhere to make up for increased CO2 output.