Distribution and current trend of polar bear subpopulations throughout the circumpolar Arctic
From United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Distribution and current trend of polar bear subpopulations throughout the circumpolar Arctic. Polar bears occur in 19 relatively discrete subpopulations with an estimated worldwide abundance of 20,000– 25,000 animals. Our knowledge of the status and trend of each subpopulation varies due to availability, reliability, and age of data. Furthermore, for many subpopulations, there is limited or no data collected over a sufficient period of time to examine trends. Based on a 2009 review of the worldwide status of polar bears, one of 19 subpopulations appears to be increasing, three are stable, and eight are declining. For the remaining seven subpopulations, there is insufficient or no data to provide an assessment of status. In particular, there is a lack of data for the Russian subpopulations.