A young polar bear snoozing on an iceberg focuses attention on the disappearing polar habitat.
This ** won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Award, hosted by the Natural History Museum in London's choice award）。
Amateur photographer Nima Salihani captured this during a three-day expedition to Svalbard, Norway.
In a press release, Sarikhani said: "This ** has aroused strong emotions among many people who have seen it. While climate change is the biggest challenge we face, I hope this one can also inspire hope; There is still time to solve the problems we have created. ”。
This photo vividly illustrates the threat to polar wildlife, which scientists interpret as a result of the climate crisis.
This Xiaoice mountain provides shelter for bears only briefly – a microcosm of the shrinking polar habitat as the world warms.
Dr. Douglas Gurr, director of the Museum of Natural History, called the photo "a visual representation of the harmful effects of climate warming and habitat loss."
More than 50,000 ** participated in the competition. Sarikhani's ** won the public vote out of 25 shortlists.
The museum says it received 750,000 votes, a record high.
Interest in Sarihani's was sparked at a time when polar bears were at a critical time.
World Nature** says there are 22,000 polar bears in the wild.
This species is classified as vulnerable, which is less severe than endangered species. Polar bears are facing the impact of the climate crisis on the Arctic, which is warming about twice the global average, according to WNC**.
Dr. Fl**io Lehner, chief climate scientist at Polar Bear International, said that although the U.S. has a conservation plan, it is unclear what progress has been made in protecting the species since it was first granted conservation status in 2008.
In a press release issued in May 2023, Lehner said: "The next 15 years will conclude what the United Nations has defined as a critical decade to combat climate change. ”。
This article was originally published by Business Insider.