Human-induced climate change has put polar bears at the risk of extinction. Studies have indicated towards survival threats being faced by polar bears due to fast melting of their natural habitat. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has said in a new report that it is very important to take immediate action to address the issue of the arctic warming.

The report has claimed that the polar bear issue is going beyond repair. "Polar bears are in big trouble. There are other steps we can take to slow the decline of polar bears, but in the long run, the only way to save polar bears in the Arctic is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions", said Rebecca Noblin, Alaska director for the Center for Biological Diversity.

Sea ice is a primary hunting ground for polar bears, but rise in temperature of arctic waters is causing its disappearance, which leaves no other option for bears than to retreat to land to find food. One important thing to note here is food sources on land are limited, thus polar bear populations can't be benefited for long as their reliance for food on land would increase significantly in summer months when the ice is gone.

Extinction risk looms over polar bears because of two main factors: sea ice loss and decline in available prey. Others threats like trans-Arctic shipping, oil and gas exploration, and disease and contaminants are not causing any great damage to polar bears to push them to extinction, said the study's lead author, Todd Atwood.