During the multitude of conversations surrounding the
environment that I have had with co-workers, friends, acquaintances, family,
etc., the crisis of the polar bear has often arisen. I for one think it is an absolute travesty
that the species is facing the possibility of extinction. And I am shocked each time someone counters
this view. The question ‘Does it
matter?’ has been presented in some form a few times now and though my initial
reaction is one of confused horror (how could anyone say that? Of course it matters!), I, being a fairly
rational person, have stopped to contemplate this query and have discovered
that the answer is rather complicated. Why does it matter if polar bears disappear? Because they’re so cute? While true, that answer is lacking obvious
substance. Because if the polar bears
are gone then the seal, penguin and walrus populations will grow at such a rate
that they will take over? Hmm, not
likely. Does it matter because the
demise of the polar bear will shake the food web so violently that all
biological systems will fall apart? I am
not a biologist, but I feel that this too is unlikely; it will affect the food
chain, yes, but probably not quite that drastically. Or does it matter because of what the
extinction of the polar bear symbolizes, rather than its place in the
ecosystem? If they die off, what does
that mean for us? Does it mean, in
shorthand, that we have ruined everything?
There are still naysayers out there who will argue that while
human beings have contributed to global warming, we are not the major cause nor
the major perpetuators, but rather that it is simply the cycle of the
Earth. I must say that I happen to think
that that particular view is a bit of rubbish.
If we take a good look at everything humans touch, we must admit that it
usually and eventually caves under the weight of our heavy hands. And who is not to say that the polar bear may
not die out on its own? I’m sure it
would, everything would, eventually. But
I feel that the reason we should care about the extinction of the polar bear is
twofold. One: it is a clear example of
what we are doing to the world, and the outlook is bleak; two: because the
polar bear is first and foremost a living, breathing creature sharing this
world with us and that alone should be enough to arouse sympathy. It should be compassion for compassion’s sake
and nothing more nor less. If this
sounds a bit…fluffy that’s fine, I can be a bit a bit fluffy sometimes as a
proud and idealistic animal rights advocate, though I have come not to expect
my specific sentiments returned. But I
do still think that the question posed in the beginning is relevant. If not in the practical sense, in the
literary sense. If you read the subtext
of the potential polar bear extinction, what story does it really tell?